Deterioration of maternal health in the war zone
The United Nations notes that the Russian war against Ukraine has a serious impact on pregnant women. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), maternal mortality in Ukraine has increased by 37% from 2023 to 2024. This was reported by France24 based on information from 'Glavkom'.
The UNFPA Director for Eastern Europe, Florence Bauer, emphasized that the deterioration of maternal health in the country indicates a serious negative impact of Russian aggression on the Ukrainian healthcare system.
Important data and warnings
Bauer stressed that these statistics represent real individuals facing stress and illustrate the consequences of attacks on medical institutions in Ukraine. A warning has been issued after a maternity hospital in Kherson was damaged due to a Russian strike.
Negative impact of the war
- Over 80 maternity and neonatal departments have been damaged or destroyed.
- In total, more than 2,760 medical institutions across Ukraine have been affected.
Attacks on hospitals and obstacles in the functioning of medical services complicate the childbirth process for women and put their lives at risk.
Call to ensure safe childbirth
Military actions should not endanger the safety of women during childbirth. According to international humanitarian law, medical institutions and personnel must be protected in wartime- noted Bauer.
Despite a decrease in the number of births, the maternal mortality rate has increased from 18.9 to 25.9 per 100,000 live births — a 37% rise.
According to the latest data, since the beginning of Russian aggression in Ukraine, at least 13,279 civilians have been killed, including 707 children.
The consequences of the Russian war do not spare even the sphere of motherhood and childhood, threatening the lives of women and children in Ukraine. The country's healthcare system requires urgent measures to protect reproductive health and the lives of future mothers.