
Cette visualisation est également disponible en Français.
Welcome to our series on the challenges facing African women. In this article, we'll explore maternal mortality, examining its impact, root causes, and potential solutions. Join us as we delve into the complexities of these challanges and strive for a better future for African women.
Context Setting the stage and providing background information
Visual Description and analysis of the visual representation
Observations Notable findings and insights derived from the visual
Limitations Elements or data points not included in the visual
Data Sources and details regarding the data used in the visual
Reflections Personal thoughts and considerations on the subject matter
Context
Maternal mortality is a crucial indicator of the quality of healthcare systems and socio-economic conditions in a given region. It measures the number of women who die during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, per 100,000 live births. In Africa, maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world, reflecting significant challenges in public health, access to care, and social inequalities.
Visual
The visualization is a map of Africa using different shades of color to indicate maternal mortality rates by country. Countries are classified into four categories according to their maternal mortality rate: extremely high (more than 1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births), very high (500 to 999 deaths), high (100 to 499 deaths) and moderate (less than 100 deaths). The map is accompanied by a stylized illustration of pregnant women visually representing these different categories.
Observations
The highest maternal mortality rates are found in countries facing conflict, like Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria and Chad, with more than 1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Some North African countries, such as Morocco and Tunisia, have relatively low maternal mortality rates in comparison, with rates between 0 and 99 deaths per 100,000 live births.
The map highlights significant disparities across the continent, illustrating the urgency of health policies tailored to local contexts.
Limitations
Aggregated Data: Maternal mortality rates are presented by country without internal distinctions. Regional disparities within a single country are thus not visible.
Absence of Temporal Trends: The map only shows data for the year 2020. Information on historical trends that could shed light on the evolution of maternal mortality over time is missing.
The data
The data is sourced from the Integrated Health Observatory in Africa and the World Health Organization. These sources provide detailed information on maternal mortality rates based on national surveys and public health reports.
Reflections
The fight against maternal mortality in conflict-affected areas, such as Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Somalia and Chad, requires a concerted effort that prioritizes maternal health services and recognizes the unique challenges faced by women in these regions. By acknowledging and understanding the factors contributing to maternal mortality, such as insufficient health infrastructure, the shortage of skilled obstetric personnel, and limited access to emergency obstetric care, Africa can take steps to implement targeted interventions and policies aimed at improving maternal health outcomes in these conflict-affected areas. How can international organizations effectively collaborate with local governments to improve maternal health in conflict zones in Africa?
Please be sure to check out our other visuals in this series on African women's challenges:
Comments