84% of Maternal Deaths are Preventable and You Can Help | World Health Day

World Health Day is part of a global health awareness initiative marking the foundation of the World Health Organization that was established in 1948. Now every April 7th, the World Health Organization launches a theme for the year that focuses on efforts to alleviate various issues posing a threat to public health. This year, the campaign entitled Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures, focuses on preventing maternal and newborn deaths.

The Facts

According to the World Health Organization, just under 300,000 women will pass away from pregnancy related complications annually while 2 million babies die within their first month of life. Out of all developed nations, the U.S. is one of the worst offenders with 32.9 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births as reported by Statista and 5.6 deaths for every 1,000 infant live births as reported by the CDC. In light of these tragic statistics, it is no surprise that 4 out of 5 countries are set to fall short of goals to reduce maternal mortality rates by 2030.

As medicine improves around the world with advancements of life-saving treatments and technology emerging every day, these numbers beg the question: How is this happening?

According to the CDC, the leading cause of death relating to pregnancy or delivery varied by race and ethnicity, but the top three complications for all reported U.S. cases included mental health conditions, hemorrhaging and cardiac or coronary conditions. Across infant deaths in the United States, the top three leading causes were congenital malformations, low birth weight and sudden infant death syndrome according to a 2023 study reported by Statista. These outcomes stem from multiple factors including healthcare system inadequacies, barriers to proficient care due to class and race, lack of education about women’s health, defunding of necessary resources and more.

The Solutions

With continued attacks on women’s reproductive health looming across the nation, it is more important than ever to support awareness, research and advocacy around maternal and newborn mortality. The good news is that according to the same CDC study tracking causes of maternal deaths, it is estimated that 84% of them are preventable and we can help to decrease these mortality rates.

We can help improve both maternal and infant mortality rates by educating ourselves about these issues, spreading our stories through social media, demanding laws from our representatives that support women’s health from The White House to our hospitals and funding research to make our case using concrete data as well as supporting more effective care.

At Women Who Rock, we believe women’s health and infant health are two sides of the same coin. Women are 50% of the population but carry 100% of the future, which is why our benefit concerts and merchandise aid in raising funds for the largest research institute in the United States, Magee Women’s Research Institute. By supporting Women Who Rock, you are helping to fund life-saving research and care for women and babies across the globe. This year, celebrate World Health Day by supporting the women in your life and rest easy knowing you are helping to provide a hopeful future.