Determinants of Maternal Mortality in Southern Africa: A Macro-Level Analysis

This study sought to investigate the macro determinants of maternal mortality in Southern African Development Community (SADC) states. The drew on fact that remains a major public health issue developing countries. Millennium Goals (MDGs) were adopted by UN member states 2000, and one them was reduce deaths three-quarters 2015. While increased efforts, goal not met countries with highest death rates. World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates every single day about 810 women die from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications around world. is despite several international initiatives being mortality. quantitative, it used secondary data achieve its objective. A panel estimation (Generalized Method Moments) covering period 2005–2019 examine how various factors affect analysis included following variables: education, fertility, GDP per capita, institutional quality, expenditure HIV infection. econometric reveals significant positive impact capita implies when are increasing, also increases. showed education has negative relationship literacy levels (education) increase, decreases. Based results, this emphasizes that, order improve consequently mortality, access family planning (to fertility), early prenatal care promoting women’s should be priority government policies.