Childbirth Crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Silent Emergency

Across sub-Saharan Africa, women developing maternal sepsis are nearly 150 times more likely to die than mothers in Britain, Europe and North America, a disparity driven by a lack of clean water and sanitation in healthcare facilities, according to new research.

The analysis, conducted by WaterAid, estimates that 4.7 million women across sub-Saharan Africa develop maternal sepsis annually – roughly one in nine births. This life-threatening condition arises when the body overreacts to an infection, often caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream during or after childbirth. While globally, approximately one in 1,100 cases of maternal sepsis proves fatal, in Africa, the mortality rate is one death for every 350 cases.

WaterAid’s report, “Born Without Water: the crisis in our delivery rooms,” examined maternity services in 16 African and Asian countries, including Nigeria, Malawi, Tanzania, and Bangladesh. The findings reveal that three out of four births in healthcare facilities in sub-Saharan Africa occur in environments lacking adequate water, sanitation, or hygiene – conditions that significantly elevate the risk of infection for both mothers and newborns.

The crisis is exacerbated by cuts to overseas aid. The research highlights that reductions in aid from the US and UK are negatively impacting the continent, worsening already precarious conditions in maternity wards.

A qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis of midwives’ perspectives, published in 2019, underscores the issue of disrespectful and abusive care during facility-based delivery in sub-Saharan Africa. The study, conducted by researchers at City, University of London, found that negative impacts on women’s utilization and experiences of facility-based delivery are well documented.

High maternal mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa continue to be a significant public health concern, particularly among vulnerable demographics of reproductive age and breastfeeding mothers, according to research published by ResearchGate.