The World Health Organization expresses concern regarding the deteriorating living conditions in the United Kingdom, and talks regarding the repercussions of this matter on the reproductive and psychological health of British women.
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World Health Organization: The living crisis in London is reflected in reproductive health
The World Health Organization has warned that the cost of living crisis might have implications for women’s reproductive and psychological health in the UK.
The organization indicated that this crisis may lead to an increase in death rates among women during and following pregnancy.
The UK lags behind most similar European countries in providing health services to pregnant women, with 9.6 mothers dying within 6 weeks of giving birth for every 100,000 live births.
According to the organization, suicide becomes a major cause of death for mothers.
A recent survey of 500 mothers showed that 72% of those who gave birth in the past three months reported that the cost of living negatively affected their mental health during pregnancy.
Dr Natasha Azobardi, Director of the World Health Organisation, and a physician specializing in maternal health, said the UK must invest more in supporting prenatal and postpartum mental health as it is a fragile and sensitive time in a woman’s life in order to reduce the suicide rate of new mothers.
Azoperdi said the WHO was “very concerned” that the situation in the UK might be exacerbated by the cost of living.
The health watchdog reported that it had noticed a deterioration over the past five years in the ratings given to women in their care, with many reporting that they did not always get the help they needed during labor and delivery.
A recent international analysis also showed that the UK was among the countries that did not take good care of the health of pregnant women.
