Maternal death in the Sub-Saharan African Region

Although the ratio of maternal death is observed and recorded to be decreasing in the Sub-Saharan region, the ratio is still above the world ratio. Maternal death in this region is recorded to be at a rate of 533 death per 100,000 births, compared to world median being 208. The below visualization shows the difference in maternal death ratio between the Sub-Saharan Africa region and the word median from 2000 to 2017

What is the cause?

Being a poor underdeveloped region, the Sub-Saharan Africa has several underlying problems and factors that affect the maternal death. I will base the focus of this blog on two of the main pillars that negatively influence mortality.

1. Poor education
2. High fertility rates

Low School Enrollment Rates

Education is a basic right that each and every child must have.

Countries in the Sub-Saharan region have very low education standards compared to developed countries. Mali, Niger, Chad, and Mauritania are some of the countries in this region who have very little school enrollment rates. Secondary school enrolment rates don’t exceed 40% on average in this region, posing a great threat on future generations and on the overall economy state.

How does education affect mortality? Education and enrollment rates have been proved to be negatively correlated with fertility rates. The low education levels in the Sub-Saharan region explain the High fertility rates that in turn, influence the mortality rates.

High Fertility Rates

Many factors make this region have high fertility rates that increase the risks of maternal deaths at birth and the death of their babies. Culture, religion, lack of knowledge, and low contraceptive prevalence are the main causes for the high rates that should be decreased in order to protect and aid women in Africa.

The following visualization shows the fertility rates along with the school enrollment rates (secondary level) throughout the years in all countries

What can be done?

Improving the education system could be a first step in solving and decreasing maternal deaths in the Sub-Saharan region. Increasing the school enrollment rates and making education accessible for all children, would allow the economy to improve as literacy rates would increase, decreasing fertility rates, and finally decreasing maternal deaths.

The United Nations have launched sustainable development goals in order to tackle and solve the problems that countries are facing. Their 4th goal targets the education system in underdeveloped countries #SDG4 such as the African region. The United Nations plans by the end of 2030 to succeeded in giving children the access to free education systems, by increasing primary and secondary enrollment rates.