**2. Status of maternal and newborn health and survival in sub-Saharan Africa**

According to the global sustainable development goals (SDG) targets, by 2030, the maternal mortality ratio should be reduced to less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, with no country having more than twice the global rate of 140 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, and there should be no more than 12 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births, globally [5, 6]. Although progress has been made in reducing mortality rates among mothers and babies, recent evidence suggest stalled progress on preventable maternal deaths, globally [7]. For example, in 2016 alone, 7000 newborn babies died every day. Newborn deaths made up 46 per cent of all child deaths, an increase from 41 per cent in 2000 (**Figure 1**) [8].

#### *Perspective Chapter: Challenges to Postnatal Care in Sub-Saharan Africa – A Review DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.113846*

Compared to other regions, countries in the SSA region have made the least progress in lowering maternal and neonatal death rates [7, 9]. The sub-region still has the highest maternal death rate, estimated at about 542 per 100,000 live births in 2017 [10]. Since 2000, maternal death rates have decreased by 33% in a number of Sub-Saharan African countries, but the region still accounted for 70% of global maternal mortality in 2020 [11]. Also, despite making up 16% of the global population, 38% of newborn mortality takes place in Africa [8]. Between the period from 1990 to 2017, SSA recorded a 40% reduction in neonatal mortality rates, which was lower than that observed in highincome nations (55%) [12]. Despite progress, the SSA region still has a long way to go to achieve its 2030 target of zero preventable maternal, stillbirth, and neonatal deaths [5]. To achieve the 2030 targets, the region's average yearly reduction rate would have to be doubled [13]. It is important to critically appraise and understand these trends and institute appropriate measures towards achievement of the SDG targets for 2030.
