Maternal mortality is one of the key public health indicators used to assess the performance of healthcare systems, as most maternal deaths are preventable. In this regard, it reflects the priority given by countries to ensuring women's rights and their access to quality public services. This indicator is particularly sensitive to inequalities related to ethnicity or race, socioeconomic status, place of residence, and age.
Definition
This indicator corresponds to the annual number of deaths of women from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management (excluding accidental or incidental causes) during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days after the termination of pregnancy, regardless of the duration and location of the pregnancy. The result is expressed as an annual ratio per 100,000 live births. The source of information is the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) database, and depending on the country, data is available from 2000 to the most recent year.
