Less Government Healthcare Spending Increases Maternal Mortality Rates Across the EU

Reductions in government healthcare spending (GHS) are associated with increased maternal mortality rates across the European Union (EU). However, the association disappears if skilled birth attendants are in place, thus highlighting the potential importance of maternal care, suggests the research.

GHS is the total expenditure on health care by the government measured as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP). Maternal mortality is defined as the death of a woman during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of delivery due to direct obstetric causes. Data on maternal mortality for 24 EU countries from the World Health Organization (WHO) database was studied to look at the association between reductions in GHS and maternal mortality across the EU over a 30 year period from 1981 to 2010. The study found that for every 1% decrease in GHS, EU countries experienced an average 10.6% annual increase in maternal mortality.