South Sudan: Maternal and Newborn Health Country Profile

This report was updated in March 2024. The 2023 report can be found here.

Despite efforts to strengthen the health system, and expand access to care via community health services, South Sudan experiences among the world’s worst maternal and newborn health outcomes worldwide. The latest UN reports indicate there are 1223 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, 40 newborn deaths per 1000 live births, and 26 stillbirths per 1000 births.

This is driven by many factors including ongoing conflict and instability coupled with climate change and COVID-19, all of which have led to a dire humanitarian crisis with South Sudan’s 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan estimating that 9.4 million will need humanitarian assistance in 2023.

This country profile – prepared by the EQUAL research consortium – outlines the state of MNH in South Sudan including the health system structures and challenges in delivering access to lifesaving MNH care, especially in the conflict affected settings.