Global maternal mortality projections by urban/rural location and education level: a simulation-based analysis

BackgroundMaternal mortality remains a challenge in global health, with well-known disparities across countries. However, less is known about disparities in maternal health by subgroups within countries. The aim of this study is to estimate maternal health indicators for subgroups of women within each country.MethodsIn this simulation-based analysis, we used the empirically calibrated Global Maternal Health (GMatH) microsimulation model to estimate a range of maternal health indicators by subgroup (urban/rural location and level of education) for 200 countries/territories from 1990 to 2050. Education levels were defined as low (less than primary), middle (less than secondary), and high (completed secondary or higher). The model simulates the reproductive lifecycle of each woman, accounting for individual-level factors such as family planning preferences, biological factors (e.g., anemia), and history of maternal complications, and how these factors vary by subgroup. We also estimated the impact of scaling up women's education on projected maternal health outcomes compared to clinical and health system-focused interventions.FindingsWe find large subgroup differences in maternal health outcomes, with an estimated global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in 2022 of 292 (95% UI 250–341) for rural women and 100 (95% UI 84–116) for urban women, and 536 (95% UI 450–594), 143 (95% UI 117–174), and 85 (95% UI 67–108) for low, middle, and high education levels, respectively. Ensuring all women complete secondary school is associated with a large impact on the projected global MMR in 2030 (97 95% UI 76–120) compared to current trends (167 95% UI 142–188), with especially large improvements in countries such as Afghanistan, Chad, Madagascar, Niger, and Yemen.InterpretationSubstantial subgroup disparities present a challenge for global maternal health and health equity. Outcomes are especially poor for rural women with low education, highlighting the need to ensure that policy interventions adequately address barriers to care in rural areas, and the importance of investing in social determinants of health, such as women's education, in addition to health system interventions to improve maternal health for all women.FundingJohn D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, 10-97002-000-INP.