UN report points to yawning gap of inequality in sexual and reproductive health worldwide
GENEVA — A new study shows that an African woman is about 130 times more likely to die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth than a woman in Europe or North America, the UN Population Fund said on Wednesday as it tackled growing inequality in sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide.
The latest UNFPA ‘State of World Population’ report also estimates that nearly 500 maternal deaths occur in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or conflict, and shows that women of African descent in the Americas are at greater risk of dying during childbirth than white women.
“The dramatic global progress on sexual and reproductive health and rights over the past three decades is marred by an ugly truth: millions of women and girls have not benefited because of who they are or where they were born,” the fund said in a statement.
UNFPA Executive Director Dr Natalia Kanem said the number of unintended pregnancies has fallen by almost a fifth since 1990 and the maternal mortality rate has fallen by more than a third since 2000.
But “inequalities within our societies and healthcare systems are widening, and we have not sufficiently prioritized reaching those furthest behind,” she said. Improvements in access to health care have mainly benefited wealthier women and members of ethnic groups with better access to care, the fund said.
Kanem welcomed some progress: More than 160 countries have passed laws against domestic violence, and the “legislation against LGBTQIA+ sexuality” that was once widespread is on the decline. Now only a third of countries have such laws.
While she credited “the agreement of the world” with leading to such gains, Kanem also warned: “Human reproduction is being politicized. The rights of women, girls and gender diverse people are the subject of increasing pressure.”
“And yet today, that progress is slowing. Through many measures this has come to a complete standstill,” she said. “The annual decline in maternal mortality has leveled off. Since 2016, the world has made no progress in saving women from preventable deaths during pregnancy and childbirth.”
“Health care systems are weak today,” Kanem added. “They are tainted by gender inequality, by racial discrimination and by misinformation.”
The fund called for new investments in sexual and reproductive health, as well as improvements in sex education, an end to gender-based violence and “ending the unmet need for contraception” – an issue that has driven a wedge in some countries.
Under US President Donald Trump’s term, the United States cut funding to UNFPA, largely over abortion concerns, depriving the fund of tens of millions of dollars over four years.