Conflict, Instability Making Pregnancy Increasingly Dangerous Worldwide — World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm over the growing dangers faced by pregnant women in conflict and fragile settings, revealing that nearly two-thirds of global maternal deaths now occur in countries grappling with war or institutional instability.
In a new technical brief released Tuesday, WHO and its partners said women living in conflict-affected countries are about five times more likely to die from maternal causes per pregnancy than those in stable nations.
According to the report, an estimated 160,000 women died from preventable maternal causes in fragile and conflict-affected settings in 2023 alone — accounting for six in every 10 maternal deaths worldwide. This is despite the fact that these countries represent only about one in 10 of global live births.
The findings underline how crises weaken already fragile health systems, making it difficult to provide consistent, lifesaving maternal care. Disruptions to hospitals, shortages of skilled health workers, damaged infrastructure, insecurity, and displacement all compound the risks facing pregnant women.
The brief, produced in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Bank, also highlights how gender inequality, ethnicity, age, and migration status further heighten the risks for women and girls in fragile environments.
The disparities are stark. A 15-year-old girl living in a conflict-affected country in 2023 faced a lifetime risk of one in 51 of dying from maternal causes. In countries marked by institutional and social fragility, the risk was one in 79. By contrast, in relatively stable countries, the lifetime risk drops dramatically to one in 593.
Maternal mortality ratios further reflect the gap. Conflict-affected countries recorded an estimated 504 deaths per 100,000 live births, while institutionally and socially fragile countries reported 368 deaths per 100,000. In comparison, countries outside both categories had a significantly lower ratio of 99 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Health experts say the figures underscore the urgent need for sustained investment in maternal health services in crisis-prone regions, warning that without targeted interventions, preventable maternal deaths will continue to rise in the world’s most vulnerable communities.
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