One in seven pregnant women could die in Ebola-hit countries, say charities

Fears that maternal death rates in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea could increase 20-fold as health facilities collapse

One in seven women in countries hit by the Ebola epidemic could die in pregnancy or childbirth because hospital services are overwhelmed, say charities.

Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea were among the countries with the highest maternal mortality rates in the world before Ebola broke out, but they were improving - women were more likely to go to a health facility to give birth and be delivered by a skilled health worker or midwife and their care was free of charge.

Continue reading...



from Pregnancy | The Guardian http://ift.tt/1pJf4T3