Delivering in danger: lack of clean water leaves African mothers almost 150 times more likely to die from sepsis, WaterAid research finds

A chronic lack of clean water and hygiene services in delivery rooms is contributing to one in nine mothers in sub-Saharan Africa developing sepsis, with around 13,000 women dying from maternal sepsis each year, new research from WaterAid reveals. GNW

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OTTAWA, March 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A chronic lack of clean water and hygiene services in delivery rooms is contributing to one in nine mothers in sub-Saharan Africa developing sepsis, with around 13,000 women dying from maternal sepsis each year, new research from WaterAid reveals.

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That is equivalent to 36 mothers lost every day, making mothers in Sub-Saharan Africa 144 times more likely to die from sepsis than those in Western Europe and North America, WaterAid’s new “Born without water” report reveals.

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The new research exposes the shocking reality inside some of the world’s most under-resourced maternity wards and reveals stark global inequalities in maternal sepsis, a life-threatening infection linked to unhygienic childbirth conditions and the third leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide.

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Deep diving into the state of maternity wards across 10 Sub-Saharan African countries, including Nigeria, Rwanda and Zambia, the research finds that 76% of births (around 3 in 4 births) occur in “unsafe” delivery rooms – defined by the lack of basic essentials:

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This means mothers are often giving birth in blood-stained rooms and forced to walk to unclean rivers to wash with open wounds post-birth, while babies are delivered by healthcare workers and midwives who have no choice but to provide care with unclean hands and equipment.

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Across the 16 countries studied, Zambia has the highest proportion of births taking place without basic toilets (98.8%) and handwashing facilities (86.1%).

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Global aid cuts are stalling – or even reversing – progress in reducing maternal and infant deaths. Yet simple, affordable essentials like clean water, toilets, and handwashing could cut maternal infections and deaths by at least 50%, WaterAid reveals.

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The report discovers that investing in and delivering universal water, sanitation and hygiene across healthcare facilities could prevent 10 million cases of maternal sepsis and 8,580 deaths worldwide every year – at a cost of less than $1 per person, much cheaper than the cost of treating sepsis, the study finds.

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These basic essential produces life-saving benefits beyond health, that ripple across families, communities, and society, including poverty reduction, education and gender equality

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WaterAid Canada’s CEO Justin Murgai said:

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“Too many women are still giving birth in facilities where there is no clean water, no soap, and no safe sanitation. When those basics are missing, childbirth can quickly become life-threatening. That’s not just unacceptable, it’s dangerous. Giving birth should be one of the safest moments in a woman’s life. Infections like maternal sepsis are largely preventable, and the solutions are simple and affordable. What’s missing is the investment and focus needed to ensure every healthcare facility has the basics.