Kenya ranks fourth in Africa with highest deaths of pregnant women

Kenya is among the top five African nations where the highest number of deaths for women during pregnancy or childbirth has been recorded.

With 594 deaths per 100,000 live births, Kenya ranks fourth in the world in a report on preventing maternal and child deaths published by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

This puts Kenya behind schedule to meet target number three of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Despite progress in improving maternal and newborn health, Kenya still faces significant challenges with high infant mortality.

The Ministry of Health states that 15 out of 47 counties account for 98.7% of all maternal deaths in Kenya, making the country's maternal mortality rate a serious public health concern.

These high-burden counties have poor mother and newborn health outcomes as a result of a variety of issues among them poverty, insecurity, poor infrastructure, and historical marginalisation.

The global aim for maternal mortality by 2030 is to lower the average maternal mortality ratio to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births, with no nation surpassing a ratio of 140 deaths per 100,000 live births.

According to the Wordl Health Organization (WHO), 287,000 women die globally during pregnancy or childbirth each year, while 4.9 million children die from largely preventable causes before their fifth birthday, and 1.9 million stillbirths occur annually.

The organisation notes that women face significant risks from complications during and after pregnancy and childbirth, many of which are preventable or treatable.

The WHO stated that some women have pre-existing conditions that can worsen during pregnancy if not properly managed.

Pregnancy-related high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia and eclampsia), severe bleeding (particularly after childbirth), infections (typically after childbirth), and delivery-related problems are the main complications that account for about 75% of all maternal deaths.

WHO notes that neonatal mortality remains a critical public health concern worldwide, accounting for 60 per cent of newborn deaths in middle and lower-income countries, including Kenya.