Mother Mortality by Shehryar (Shay) Saharan

This data visualization focuses on the maternal mortality rates across the globe and sheds light on factors that play an important role in its prevalence, as well as causes of death.

Maternal mortality refers to deaths due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth, or within 6 weeks of giving birth. Although maternal mortality has declined dramatically over the past 20 years, over 800 women continue to die each and every day - and this is simply unacceptable. Relatively inadequate healthcare and low-income levels reflect higher maternal deaths in low-resource regions across the globe. Consequently, lower-middle-income countries continue to endure over 90% of global maternal deaths. The majority of these deaths are preventable - all women need access to well-managed healthcare during pregnancy and especially during & after childbirth. Not only does this mean life or death for the mother but is also closely linked to newborn mortality. In 2015, countries across the globe set out to reach a maternal mortality ratio (i.e. maternal deaths per 100,000 births) of 70, with no country being more than twice the global average as per the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. By addressing inequalities in maternal healthcare, the lives of many mothers and newborns can be saved.