Lanka cuts maternal deaths, faces rise in low birth weight babies

Sri Lanka has achieved a significant milestone in maternal health, reducing maternal mortality to 25 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023—a feat the World Health Organization (WHO) describes as “remarkable.” This progress, attributed to the country’s strong and inclusive healthcare system that ensures free and equitable access to maternal services, was highlighted in a statement marking World Health Day 2025, themed “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures.” However, the WHO also raised concern over a rising trend in low birth weight among newborns, emphasizing the urgent need to investigate underlying factors, particularly the role of maternal nutrition.

Maternal and newborn health statistics remain alarming. Each year, nearly 300,000 women die due to pregnancy or childbirth complications. Over 2 million newborns do not survive beyond their first month, while another 2 million are stillborn. This equates to a preventable death every seven seconds, causing immense suffering for families worldwide. Many of these tragedies could be prevented with better access to quality prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care, alongside stronger healthcare systems that prioritize maternal and newborn well-being.

Since 2000, global efforts have led to a 40% reduction in maternal mortality, dropping from 446,000 deaths in 2000 to 260,000 in 2023. However, disparities persist. In 2023, Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for approximately 70% of global maternal deaths, with Central and Southern Asia contributing another 17%.

To meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.1, reducing global maternal mortality to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030, intensified efforts are needed. A significant milestone was achieved in May 2024 with the adoption of the WHA77 resolution, urging nations to remove barriers, expand access to quality healthcare, and reorient health systems toward primary healthcare.

Sri Lanka has made remarkable progress, reducing maternal mortality to 25 per 100,000 live births in 2023. This achievement stems from a robust healthcare system that offers free and equitable maternal health services. Key success factors include the professionalization of midwifery, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvements in care quality. Moving forward, ensuring not only access but also effectiveness in maternal care is crucial. Enhancing prenatal and postnatal services, addressing healthcare access disparities, and integrating advanced medical interventions will be essential in further improving outcomes.

To support maternal health initiatives, World Health Organization, in collaboration with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health, conducted a webinar series in commemoration of World Health Day 2025. The sessions focused on maternal nutrition, maternal mental health, and maternal empowerment.

The inaugural webinar, “Nurturing the Future: Maternal Nutrition for Healthy Beginnings,” took place on April 1st, featuring esteemed international and national speakers and focused on maternal nutrition. While making significant progress in reducing maternal mortality, Sri Lanka’s attention has shifted to ensuring quality maternal health outcomes that contribute to healthy beginnings for both mothers and infants. A newborn’s birth weight is a key indicator of pregnancy outcomes and is directly influenced by maternal nutrition. It also has long-term implications for health and development. However, recent studies indicate a rise in low birth weight babies, highlighting the urgent need to examine the underlying causes and the role of maternal nutrition. It also has long-term implications for health and development.

Maternal health is shaped by various factors, including socioeconomic conditions, education, emotional and physical well-being, and obstetric care. The ongoing economic downturn poses challenges, potentially affecting access to nutritious food and healthcare services for expectant mothers. While anaemia during pregnancy remains a concern, the underlying causes have evolved, with a decline in iron deficiency. This calls for more targeted nutritional interventions to address persistent anaemia levels and improve overall maternal health.

This webinar on Maternal Nutrition, explored the significant progress Sri Lanka has made in reducing maternal mortality while emphasizing the need to shift our focus toward improving the quality of maternal health outcomes. The global and regional nutrition trends along with the national nutritional landscape were explored, highlighting key challenges such as low birth weight and small-for-gestational-age births. The importance of addressing anaemia, ensuring adequate weight gain during pregnancy, and tackling both undernutrition and overnutrition were underscored. While positive strides have been made, the looming concerns posed by economic downturns and rising poverty were acknowledged, calling for more evidence-based interventions and policies to safeguard maternal nutrition.

Maternal Mental Health: Resilient Mothers, Mental Wellness Matters

The second webinar, “Resilient Mothers: Mental Wellness Matters,” held on April 2nd shed light on an often-overlooked aspect of maternal well-being.