This report was updated in March 2024. The 2023 report can be found here.
The 2023 UN report on Trends in Maternal Mortality from 2000-2020 revealed that Somalia continues to experience among the world’s highest ratios of maternal morality with 621 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. This is in addition to persistently poor outcomes for newborns with 36 newborn deaths per 1000 live births and 28 stillbirths per 1000 births.
While the situation in Somalia has improved, violence continues and people remain vulnerable to natural disasters, food insecurity, and locust outbreaks. Somalia’s 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan estimates 8.25 million need immediate humanitarian assistance with more than 6.3 million people expected to face high levels of food insecurity in the first half of 2023, and more than 1.3 million people displaced due to the drought. Women and newborns are among the hardest hit.
This country profile – prepared by the EQUAL research consortium – outlines the state of MNH in Somalia including the health system structures and challenges in delivering access to lifesaving MNH care, especially in the conflict affected settings.