According to a report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), approximately 800 women worldwide lose their lives daily due to complications during childbirth. This translates to one woman dying every two minutes while giving birth.
According to a report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), around 800 women globally lose their lives daily due to complications during childbirth. Additionally, one in four women worldwide lacks the right to refuse sexual relations with their spouse, and one in ten cannot make independent decisions about birth control.
Maternal deaths predominantly occur in low-income countries, driven by factors such as limited access to healthcare services, economic constraints, societal norms, gender taboos, racism, violence, humanitarian crises, and climate conditions.
- An African woman who experiences pregnancy and childbirth complications is around 130 times more likely to die from them than a woman in Europe and Northern America.
- Over half of all preventable maternal deaths are estimated to occur in countries with humanitarian crises and conflicts – that’s nearly 500 deaths per day.
- Women of African descent across the Americas are more likely to die when giving birth than white women. In the United States, the rate is three times higher than the national average.
- Women from indigenous ethnic groups are more likely to die of causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.
- Women with disabilities are up to 10 times more likely to experience gender-based violence than their peers without disabilities.
- People of diverse sexual orientation and gender expression face rampant violence and steep barriers to care.
The situation of women in Turkey
According to the 2024 UNFPA report, 48% of women aged 15-49 in Turkey use some form of contraceptive method, with this percentage rising to 72% among married or partnered women in the same age group. The report also reveals that 33% of women in the age group use modern contraceptive methods, while the rate increases to 50% among married or partnered women.
Regarding maternal deaths, the latest available data in the report is from 2020. Under this section, it is reported that in Turkey, 17 out of every 100,000 births result in the death of the mother during childbirth. The report further highlights that between 2004 and 2022, over an 18-year period, 97% of births in Turkey were attended by qualified healthcare personnel.