Women almost 150 times more likely to die from maternal sepsis in Africa than Europe

"Women who develop maternal sepsis in sub-Saharan Africa are almost 150 times more likely to die than mothers in Britain, Europe and North America, according to new research with a lack of clean water and sanitation contributing to 36 deaths a day. The analysis by WaterAid finds that the infection one of the most dangerous complications of pregnancy and childbirth is vastly more lethal in parts of Africa where maternity wards frequently lack clean water, toilets or basic hygiene facilities."

"Across sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 4.7 million women develop maternal sepsis each year, equivalent to around one in every nine births. The condition occurs when the body develops a life-threatening reaction to infection, often caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream during or after childbirth. Globally, about one in 1,100 cases of maternal sepsis results in death. In Africa, however, the fatality rate is dramatically higher with one death for every 350 cases."

Maternal sepsis, a life-threatening infection complication during pregnancy and childbirth, kills women at vastly different rates depending on geography and access to basic healthcare infrastructure. In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 4.7 million women develop maternal sepsis annually, representing one in nine births. The fatality rate reaches one death per 350 cases in Africa compared to one per 1,100 globally. Research by WaterAid identifies lack of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities in maternity wards as primary contributors to these deaths, accounting for 36 deaths daily. Overseas aid cuts from the US and UK have exacerbated these conditions across the continent, creating a critical public health crisis.

Read at www.independent.co.uk