Milan, May 3. (Adnkronos Health) – Almost one in five children (17.9%) born this year will enter the world without a doctor, midwife or nurse, with serious risks for unborn babies and their mothers, as conflict and climate change are essential. inaccessible maternal health services. The group Save the Children raised the alarm, which issued a new analysis today. An analysis from which it emerged that more than a fifth of births (22.2%) take place outside a health facility, with a percentage that rises to almost half in conflict zones. The report estimates that 24 million mothers will give birth without a doctor, midwife or nurse, and 28 million will give birth outside a health facility. The rise in conflict, climate disasters and humanitarian crises, as well as the dangerous trend towards less protection of reproductive health and human rights, is slowing progress towards a world where Childbirth is a mortal danger for millions of women.
Somalia is facing the worst effects of the climate crisis and is one of the 10 worst countries in the world for children. Across the country, only 31.9% of women give birth in the presence of a doctor, midwife or nurse, the lowest level of skilled birth attendance in the world. Rahma (not her real name), 32, gave birth at Beledweyne hospital recently, with the support of Save the Children and the Damal Beyal Project, and told staff that the births were Her previous home had been difficult. “When I gave birth to my last child at home it was difficult – she said – I couldn’t find a professional nurse and I was bleeding heavily. It was a dangerous situation, I was in danger of dying “. After such a difficult experience at home, Rahma was able to give birth to her last child in the hospital, under the care of the obstetric team. “After a few hours of hard labour, I gave birth to a healthy baby. They took care of us and before leaving the hospital I spoke to a nurse about breastfeeding and the support I could get for me to get.”
Save the Children highlights that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme heat and wildfires, which are associated with an increased risk of premature birth, stillbirth and pregnancy complications. In a global setting where conflict is increasing every year, the study also found that pregnant mothers in war zones are three times more likely to give birth without a doctor, midwife or nurse. The report then reveals that almost half of births (44%) in conflict zones take place outside a health facility, while in other areas the figure stops at 15%.
Nowhere has the devastating impact of the conflict been more evident than in Gaza, it is being reported again. A recent study by Save the Children showed that between 7 October 2023 and the beginning of April 2024, at least 435 attacks were launched on health care facilities or staff, an average of 73 per month, it said. . Until ten years ago, there had been steady progress to guarantee maternal health worldwide and reach the United Nations target of 70 deaths per 100,000 births globally by 2030, but now – Save the Children points out – there we find a stalemate. A study by the World Health Organization last year found that a woman dies every two minutes as a result of complications related to childbirth or pregnancy.
“Save the Children – read the note – urges governments to protect the lives of women and children with effective primary health care, comprehensive sexual and reproductive education and related support services, all funded appropriate in an efficient and sustainable manner. Leaders must also resist strongly. roll back any progress made in sexual and reproductive health and human rights.” Both in conflict zones and in the areas most affected by the climate crisis, Marionka Pohl, Global Head Save the Children Health Policy and Advocacy, “girls and boys are the first to suffer, right from birth. In these contexts, mothers and their babies are more likely to be at risk for their life, and as a result a greater number of children grow up without a mother and that many women live with the temptation of losing their children from the moment they are born even in the most remote areas and most dangerous in the world, that they should have access to medical care and services, as well as the right to access reproductive services and education It is necessary to work now decades, women and children will pay price. “
