PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) -- A World Health Organization report provides disturbing information about the maternal death rate throughout the world.
When a woman dies during pregnancy, as a result of complications of delivery, or within the first six weeks after giving birth, her death is counted as part of the maternal death rate.
The WHO report says that a woman died every two minutes in 2020, somewhere in the world, because of pregnancy or childbirth.
Most causes are preventable: high blood pressure, severe bleeding, and underlying conditions that are not treated. The ability to get care before and after pregnancy is critical. However, many women in certain parts of the world do not have access to adequate care.
Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough.
KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
