For many women, ultrasound scans during pregnancy are a routine part of antenatal care, offering them a first glimpse of their baby and helping doctors monitor crucial aspects of the fetus’ development, its position, and other factors which can mean the difference between life and death for a mother and her child.
In low-income countries, however, this lifesaving technology remains inaccessible to millions, contributing to preventable maternal and infant deaths. The World Health Organization recommends at least one ultrasound during pregnancy, but in many of these nations, about 50% of pregnant women never receive a single scan, exacerbating the ongoing maternal and infant mortality crisis. WHO estimates that every year, 300,000 women die during pregnancy or childbirth, while over 2 million babies die within the first month of life, and 2 million are stillborn.
Increasing the number of women who receive scans, and then connecting them to treatment where needed, could reduce these numbers.
About the author
Sophie Edwards
Sophie Edwards is a Devex Contributing Reporter covering global education, water and sanitation, and innovative financing, along with other topics. She has previously worked for NGOs, and the World Bank, and spent a number of years as a journalist for a regional newspaper in the U.K. She has a master's degree from the Institute of Development Studies and a bachelor's from Cambridge University.
