New research featured in The Lancet Global Health confirms that the substantial drop in maternal deaths worldwide over the last 20 years is largely due to advancements in both reproductive health services and maternal care. The study, titled “Effect of maternity care improvement, fertility decline, and contraceptive use on global maternal mortality reduction between 2000–2023: results from a decomposition analysis,” was conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) along with the Human Reproduction Programme (HRP). Analyzing data from 195 countries and regions, the study sheds light on how improving maternity services and access to contraception has helped lower maternal mortality by 41% globally between 2000 and 2023.

Researchers explored what the maternal mortality rates might have looked like without enhancements in family planning and maternity care. Their findings revealed that 61.2% of the overall decrease is due to better maternity care, while 38.8% is linked to reduced fertility rates. Notably, the expanded use of contraceptives was responsible for preventing approximately 77,400 maternal deaths in 2023 alone, emphasizing the significant, life-saving impact of accessible family planning in addition to offering high-quality prenatal and obstetric care.

The study distinguished the specific effect of contraceptive access from that of maternity care, verifying that contraceptive use alone played a crucial role in reducing maternal deaths—accounting for nearly one-quarter of lives saved in 2023. This adds strong support to the understanding that contraception is not only central to reproductive rights and personal agency but is also a proven measure to safeguard lives. By enabling healthier birth spacing and timing, contraception reduces risks related to pregnancies that are too early, too late, or too close together, while also decreasing the number of unsafe abortions—both of which are leading drivers of maternal mortality worldwide.

The findings highlight a clear need for ongoing support and expansion of sexual and reproductive health services, alongside continued improvements in maternity care. The analysis shows that efforts to reduce maternal deaths are most effective when both areas are prioritized. It also points out that many regions still face challenges with unmet needs for contraception, making it vital to ensure women everywhere are able to safely manage their reproductive choices. Reaching the global aim set by Sustainable Development Goal 3.1, which targets fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030, will depend heavily on integrated efforts that boost both contraceptive services and maternal healthcare—especially in low-resource settings where access remains limited.

“This serves as a guide for policy-makers and health providers around the world. It reinforces the idea that access to contraception and high-quality maternity services are essential health measures that also drive progress toward gender equity. We must make sure every woman has the tools and care she needs to prevent unplanned pregnancies and ensure a safe journey through childbirth.”

— Pascale Allotey, Director of HRP and WHO’s Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child, Adolescent Health and Ageing.

By clearly calculating the roles played by maternity services and contraceptive access, this study delivers an urgent call to action: continued investment in reproductive health and maternal care is critical to protecting lives and advancing progress on global maternal health outcomes.