Between 1990 and 2010, Africa has reduced maternal deaths by 41 per cent.Over the same period, it has also reduced under-five mortality by 33 per cent.Despite progress, 57 per cent of all maternal deaths occur on the continent,giving Africa the highest maternal mortality ratio in the world. Maternal mortalityrates vary from country to country.
While the lifetime risk of dying from pregnancy-related complications is1 in 4,700 in the industrialized world, the lifetime risk of an African woman dying from pregnancy related complications is 1 in 39.1
