Bleeding a leading cause of maternal death, report

Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 62 per cent of global maternal deaths. [Getty Images]

Maternal and neonatal mortality remains a significant and persistent public health challenge with wide disparity between regions and countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 62 per cent of global maternal deaths, which are preventable and mostly occur during labour and childbirth, and in the first week after birth.