Maternal and neonatal mortality reduction in Africa

Efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in Africa are being addressed through both research-backed interventions and national policy initiatives.

A study by the Karolinska Institutet regarding the ALERT project in Benin, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda found that multi-faceted maternity care interventions—including midwife training, hospital support, and digital monitoring—led to a 22 percent reduction in early perinatal mortality. Researchers noted that such models can reduce morbidity even in resource-limited environments.

In Nigeria, health stakeholders are advocating for increased funding to improve the quality of clinical care, noting that access to facilities must be paired with essential medicines and trained specialists. To address this, the Federal Capital Territory administration has launched the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII). This program targets 172 high-burden areas to increase skilled birth attendance and achieve a 30 percent reduction in maternal mortality nationwide.