The missing evidence: anaemia, postpartum bleeding and maternal death

Overview

The Missing Evidence Report, based on the WOMAN-2 study, identifies anemia as a critical driver of maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. It reveals that anemia contributes to half of all severe postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) cases in these regions. Women with severe anemia are seven times more likely to die during childbirth and three times more likely to suffer stillbirths than those with moderate anemia. The report calls for urgent global action to prioritize anemia prevention in policies, improve access to lifesaving treatments, and include women’s perspectives in decision-making to effectively reduce preventable maternal deaths.