Severe bleeding after birth (postpartum haemorrhage) is the leading cause of maternal mortality globally. It causes approximately 70,000 deaths annually. About 80% occur in Africa and South Asia. A recently published World Health Organization analysis shows postpartum haemorrhage accounts for 28% of maternal deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, compared to 14% in northern Europe.
Another leading cause of maternal mortality globally is pregnancy-related infections. The body’s natural response to infection sometimes causes injury to its own tissues and organs during pregnancy, childbirth, post-abortion or the postpartum period. This life-threatening condition is known as maternal sepsis.
