Congo: Maternal deaths nearly double as women avoid hospitals during Ebola outbreak

In Ituri, an average of six women per week have died from complications related to childbirth, says Noemi Dalmonte, deputy country representative in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Before the Ebola outbreak, maternal deaths averaged 3.1 per week this year. But then the number increased to 5.8 deaths per week between May 25 and July 19. The proportion of those who died outside health facilities increased from 9.1 to 17.4 percent during the period.

More than 1,600 people have died so far in the Ebola outbreak that continues in eastern Congo-Kinshasa.