Improving access to emergency obstetric care in low- and middle-income countries

Abstract

While maternal deaths have declined by a third between 2000 and 2020, approximately 800 women continue to die every day due to pregnancy-related complications. For every woman who dies, many more experience life-debilitating conditions. Most of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Women in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) face the highest risk of mortality, with a lifetime risk of dying from pregnancy-related complications estimated at 1 in 40. Given the unpredictable nature of pregnancy complications, emergency obstetric care (EmOC) remains the most effective strategy to reduce the global burden of maternal deaths due to pregnancy related complications. Investing in EmOC can assist countries struggling with high burden of maternal mortality in staying on track toward achieving the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, LMICs encounter several challenges in accessing these life-saving interventions. This article utilises Thaddeus and Maine's three-delay model to analyse barriers to EmOC in LMICs and to propose potential solutions.