- Maternal deaths trend down
KINGSTON, Jamaica. Tuesday, June 10, 2025: More women are seeking care during pregnancy, as the Ministry of Health and Wellness strengthens measures to reduce preventable maternal and neonatal deaths.
This marks a significant improvement in access to care even as the country observes maternal mortality rates trending downward.
Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, MP, made this disclosure during his Sectoral Presentation in Gordon House on Tuesday (June 10, 2025).
“In 2024, Jamaica recorded a preliminary maternal mortality ratio of 133 per 100,000 live births, reflecting a downward trend post the COVID-19 pandemic from 211.3 per 100,000 live births at the peak of the pandemic in 2021. For the last three consecutive years, there has been a consistent decrease in the rate and with the numbers so far for this year, we are expecting a continued downward trend,” the Minister said.
Noting that the country’s maternal mortality rate has been of major concern for over the past two decades, Dr. Tufton explained that the reduction in numbers is due to “improved engagement of mothers early in pregnancy, improved governance, improved facilities, improved guidelines and implementation of standards across the country”.
“There was a marked improvement in the proportion of women who sought antenatal care in the first trimester, reflecting early engagement and equitable access,” the Minister continued.
More than 320 health centres offer maternal and child health services. Recent upgrades and improvements in infrastructure to primary care facilities is also noted among the factors driving the decline in maternal mortality.
“In 2023, 45% of women received antenatal care in the first trimester compared with 22% in 2018. Approximately 99% of pregnant women were attended to by skilled birth personnel,“ the Minister explained.
IMPROVING STANDARDS
Among the series of actions aimed at improving standards of care are the updating of clinical guidelines that address conditions such as hypertension, obesity, cardiac disease, sepsis and thromboembolism, which are among the chief causes of maternal mortality in Jamaica.
Additionally, monitoring and evaluation tools have been developed, including templates for neonatal quarterly reporting to the national level and a postpartum home visits guidance tool.