Infant & maternal health

Key stats

• Approximately 830 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth
• The maternal and infant death rate in Australia is 1 in 20,000. In Papua New Guinea, it’s 1 in 20. In Sierra Leone – the most dangerous country for women giving birth – it’s 1 in 17.

Infant and maternal health are two of the most pressing global health challenges of our time. Despite advances in medical technology, the expansion of access to healthcare in many parts of the world, maternal and infant mortality remain alarmingly high in many developing countries. This has significant implications for both the health and wellbeing of mothers and infants and the overall development of communities.

One of the biggest challenges to maternal health is lack of access to quality healthcare. In many low-income countries, a lack of infrastructure, healthcare workers and funding means that many women don’t have access to prenatal care, delivery services and post-partum care. This can result in complications during pregnancy and childbirth, such as obstructed labor, haemorrhages and infections.

Women in these countries are also more likely to die when giving birth, with the majority of deaths caused by preventable conditions such as obstetric emergencies, hypertension, and bleeding.

The high rates of maternal mortality are a significant contributor to infant mortality, as newborns are at risk of dying if their mothers die during or shortly after childbirth.

Many infants in low-income countries are also born with low birth weights, which increases the risk of mortality and morbidity. They’re also more likely to experience malnutrition and infectious diseases, such as pneumonia and diarrhea, which can be life-threatening.

A critical aspect of addressing maternal and infant health challenges globally is empowering women and families. This means providing them with the education, resources and support they need to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.

Women and families who are empowered to take charge of their health are more likely to seek out and receive the care they need, reducing their risk of maternal and infant mortality.

While still a major global health challenge – and progress has been made – there’s much to be done to improve access to quality healthcare, empower women and families, and reduce mortality especially in the developing world.

At i=Change, we’re committed to supporting NGO with deep expertise in maternal and infant health, that work alongside communities to reduce mortality while providing better health outcomes for the mother, her child and their entire community.

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