On International Women’s Day, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) called for accelerated efforts to reduce maternal mortality and ensure that all women in the Americas have access to essential health services, medicines, and technologies for safe motherhood. Despite progress over recent decades, thousands of women still die each year from preventable pregnancy and childbirth-related causes. In 2023, nearly 8,000 maternal deaths were recorded in the region, with a maternal mortality ratio of 59 deaths per 100,000 live births, which remains above PAHO’s 2030 regional target of 30 per 100,000.
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened existing inequalities and temporarily increased maternal deaths, but coordinated responses in the following years helped reduce maternal deaths by 17%, saving the lives of approximately five pregnant women per day. However, gaps in access to maternal and neonatal health services continue to disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including Indigenous women in some Latin American and Caribbean countries, who face up to three times the risk of dying during pregnancy or childbirth.
The leading causes of maternal death in the region include postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy such as preeclampsia and eclampsia, and severe infections related to pregnancy. Nearly all these deaths are preventable when women have timely access to quality, respectful, and evidence-based care, along with the appropriate medicines and technologies. Strengthening access to essential maternal and neonatal health services, medicines, and technologies is critical to reducing mortality among women and newborns.
In 2024, PAHO launched the Zero Preventable Maternal Deaths initiative to accelerate action and ensure no woman dies from preventable causes. The initiative urges countries to commit adequate financing for women’s health, promote intersectoral collaboration to remove barriers to care, and implement social mobilization strategies to raise awareness of maternal health issues. The call emphasizes stronger governance, expanded primary health care, integrated health service networks, sufficient and well-trained health workers, and empowering women, families, and communities to access sexual and reproductive health services.
PAHO has also enhanced technical cooperation through the launch of essential maternal and neonatal health supply packages, providing a catalogue of priority medicines, devices, and equipment for joint, safe, and affordable procurement via the Organization’s Regional Revolving Funds. On International Women’s Day, PAHO highlighted the urgent need to ensure equitable access to health services, medicines, and technologies, strengthen health systems, and prioritize the most vulnerable populations so that all women can exercise their right to safe motherhood.
