The Ministry of Health has released its fifth National Maternal Mortality Report for 2022, showing a marked decrease in maternal deaths. The report, developed by the National Maternal Mortality Committee and the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Unit in collaboration with the USAID-funded Health Services Quality Accelerator Activity, highlights progress in the country's maternal health outcomes. The report reveals that Jordan's maternal mortality rate dropped to 28 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022, down from 29.8 per 100,000 in 2021, excluding deaths related to COVID-19. Including COVID-19-related fatalities, the rate fell dramatically from 85 per 100,000 live births in 2021 to 33 per 100,000 in 2022. The decline reflects improved maternal health interventions and bolstered national response efforts, signaling optimism in addressing preventable maternal deaths. The report identifies acute pulmonary embolism as the leading cause of maternal mortality, accounting for 20 percent of cases, followed by CO VID-19 complications and peripartum hemorrhage, which accounted for 13.4 percent of deaths. Delayed medical intervention was a contributing factor in 17.5 percent of maternal deaths, according to the report. In response, the Ministry of Health has urged pregnant women, particularly those at high risk, to seek early medical attention to ensure timely and appropriate care. The Ministry commended the efforts of all stakeholders involved in the National Maternal Mortality Surveillance and Response Program, including liaison officers across Jordan's hospitals, technical committees, the National Maternal Mortality Committee, and USAID's Health Services Quality Accelerator Activity. Their work has been instrumental in gathering accurate data and improving maternal healthcare services across the country. Source: Jordan News Agency