According to the report, more than 4.5 million women and kids perish each year during pregnancy, childbirth, or the first few weeks following delivery.   

Worldwide, the death rates of expectant mothers and babies remain intolerably high, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it harder to get them the healthcare they require.  

In the report, "Improving maternal and newborn health and survival and reducing stillbirth," the most recent statistics regarding these deaths are evaluated.   

The analysis demonstrates that since 2015, improvements in survival have stalled, with 290 000 maternal deaths annually, 1.9 million stillbirths, and 2.3 million newborn fatalities.  

More than 75% of all nations affected by armed conflict and Sub-Saharan Africa report decreasing funding for maternal and neonatal health since 2018.  

Less than 60% of pregnant women obtain even four of the eight antenatal visits that the WHO recommends in the worst-affected nations in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Southern Asia.

More than 60 nations are not expected to achieve the reduction objectives for maternal, neonatal, and stillbirth mortality under the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 based on current trends.