World Health Day, celebrated on April 7, 2025, will kick off a year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health. The campaign, titled Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures will urge governments and the health community to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritise women’s longer-term health and well-being.
WHO and partners will also share useful information to support healthy pregnancies and births, and better postnatal health.
Tragically, based on currently published estimates, close to 300,000 women lose their life due to pregnancy or childbirth each year, while over 2 million babies die in their first month of life and around 2 million more are stillborn. That is roughly 1 preventable death every 7 seconds.
Based on current trends, a staggering 4 out of 5 countries are off track to meet targets for improving maternal survival by 2030. One in 3 will fail to meet targets for reducing newborn deaths.
Access to high quality care
Women and families everywhere need high quality care that supports them physically and emotionally, before, during and after birth.
Health systems must evolve to manage the many health issues that impact maternal and newborn health. These not only include direct obstetric complications but also mental health conditions, non-communicable diseases and family planning.
The WHO is calling for a worldwide reinvigoration of efforts to ensure access to high quality care for women and babies, especially in the poorest countries, humanitarian emergencies and fragile settings where most maternal and newborn deaths occur.
Women everywhere need access to health providers who listen to their concerns and meet their needs – including in the months after pregnancy when millions lack critical support, despite enduring lasting health consequences after birth. Better maternal health means improving the rights of women and girls so that they can plan their lives and protect their health. Their agency and empowerment are fundamental for tackling both maternal and newborn deaths and achieving health for all.
Ending preventable deaths
Achieving targets: Experience from around the world shows that progress is possible and that we can end preventable maternal and newborn deaths. These investments are not just about survival; they are about ensuring a brighter and hopeful future for women and their children.
Investing in human capital: In low- and middle-income countries, every US$ 1 invested in maternal and newborn health is estimated to yield around US$ 9 to US$ 20 in return. Evidence shows that spending on maternal and newborn health is an investment in human capital, not a cost, leading to economic development and happier, healthier societies.
No-one left behind: Given the high concentration of maternal and newborn deaths in humanitarian emergencies and fragile settings, ensuring impact and targeting interventions in these contexts will be critical for significantly reducing maternal and newborn deaths.
High-impact investments
Antenatal checks: High quality antenatal services – including at least eight checks with a skilled health worker and early ultrasound – are essential for all women to support healthy pregnancies, reduce risks and detect possible complications. Up to 15 percent of pregnant women have been estimated to develop a potentially life-threatening complication during pregnancy or birth.
Lifesaving care during and after birth: At least 70 percent of all maternal deaths are due to direct obstetric causes like haemorrhage and pre-eclampsia; most of these fatalities occur during labour and birth, along with more than 40 percent of stillbirths, or shortly after delivery. Access to quality care from skilled providers during and after childbirth is critical, including vital emergency services if dangerous complications occur.
Address indirect causes: Infectious diseases and pre-existing health conditions like anaemias, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and diabetes underpin nearly a quarter of maternal mortality. It is vital to improve care, prevention, and early detection of these health conditions that complicate pregnancies and increase risks for millions around the world.
Immediate newborn care: Newborn deaths account for nearly 50 percent of deaths among children under the age of five globally, resulting in 2.4 million lives lost each year. All babies need essential care at birth and in their first month of life, including breastfeeding support, so they are protected from infections, can breathe normally, and are warm and well-nourished.
Special attention to vulnerable babies: Complications relating to prematurity and low birth weight are the leading cause of death in newborns and children under five. Since small and sick babies require round-the-clock in-patient care, significant investment is needed in special newborn care units, quick referrals, and vital family support.
Focus on midwives: Midwifery care models, where midwives provide ongoing support to pregnant women and babies after birth, have been shown to improve survival while reducing preterm births and unnecessary medical interventions. Investing in these models, and ensuring sufficient well-trained midwives, is a cost-effective strategy to improve maternal and newborn health.
Access to family planning: Approximately 218 million women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries have an unmet need for modern contraception. Addressing this need can significantly reduce unintended pregnancies and related risks.
Solutions for low-income contexts: Research is needed to identify cost-effective solutions that tackle the leading causes of maternal and newborn deaths, particularly targeting healthcare settings in poorer countries and fragile contexts.
Beyond survival
Compassionate and respectful care: Services must not only be safe and effective, they must also ensure women, newborns and caregivers are treated with dignity, empathy and respect. This includes compassionate care for those affected by stillbirth and miscarriage – requiring dedicated training for health workers and bereavement counselling for those in need.
Postnatal support: Around a third of women suffer long-term health complications after childbirth, which can increase risks during future pregnancies, while up to 20 percent of new mothers have been estimated to experience postpartum depression or anxiety. An integrated approach to postnatal care connects physical health, mental health, and social support services in this critical period and beyond.
Family-friendly policies: Family-friendly policies and laws are critical to ensure women have the right support to take care of their health and their babies, including paid maternity leave (at least 18 weeks, ideally 6 months or more), legal protections, and workplace support for breastfeeding.
Empowering girls and women: Girls’ access to education is associated with reduced likelihood of maternal death. Ensuring girls can stay in school and make decisions about their health and bodies is critical for improving their health.
