Strengthening Implementation of Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR): Moving from Data to Action
October 15, 2025
Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) supplement in the BMC.
Country action
Zimbabwe
Photo © 2020 UNICEF/ Karel Prinsloo
Twenty year old pregnant Zanle Chisa get a check up at the Tanganda Rural Health Centre near Mutare, Zimbabwe, Feb, 5, 2020 .
Every Woman Every Newborn in Zimbabwe
Download the full profile with additional key demographics, progress against milestones, and more.
This profile was developed in May 2023, using data from 2018-2023.
Photo © 2013 UNICEF/ Jordi Matas
In April 2013 in Zimbabwe, a woman and her infant await care at the Madamombe rural health centre in Chivi District, Masvingo Province.
National mortality targets
Maternal mortality ratio
240 per 100,000 live births by 2025
Stillbirth rate
No data
Neonatal mortality rate
20 per 1,000 live births by 2025
Progress to meet the national maternal, newborn mortality and stillbirth reduction targets
Photo © 2013 UNICEF/ Jordi Matas
In April 2013 in Zimbabwe, a young woman, holding her infant, recovers in a maternity ward the day after giving birth, in Chivi District, Masvingo Province.
Progress to meet Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere coverage targets
MNH Acceleration Plan highlights
- Improve funding for maternal and newborn health by disaggregating maternal health and newborn expenditure data in the national health expenditures, mobilizing additional domestic resources and engaging the private sector.
- Increase the availability of high impact medical equipment and commodities through advocacy for increased domestic and donor investment into high impact technologies.
- Improve health worker availability and motivation: Use the results of the Health Labour Market analysis as advocacy to stem midwives attrition.
©UNICEF/Quarmyne.
Photo © 2011 UNICEF/ Giacomo Pirozzi
2011, A health worker checks blood pressure of a pregnant woman at Neshuro District Hospital in Mwenezi, some 150km from the town of Masvingo(south of Zimbabwe). UNICEF supports maternal and child health care including PMTCT at the hospital.
Quality of care in Zimbabwe
As part of its efforts to reduce maternal and newborn mortality and stillbirths, Zimbabwe is taking steps to improve the quality of maternal and newborn health. These include:
- National Health Sector Quality Framework is operationalized, guided by local evidence on priority drivers of quality of care failures.
- Community engagement and social accountability on Maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response (MPDSR) is improved, building on the implementation of the National Community Health Strategy.
News and events
New guidelines to address postpartum haemorrhage
October 9, 2025
New recommendations on postpartum haemorrhage
Webinar Series: Strengthening product ecosystems for maternal & newborn health
October 8, 2025
A four-part series on increasing access to quality, life-saving maternal and newborn health products.
Resources
Strengthening Implementation of Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR): Moving from Data to Action
October 16, 2025
A new BMC supplement on Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) looks at what implementation looks like in practice, highlighting research and programmatic
Consolidated guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage
October 9, 2025
Published by the World Health Organization, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), the guidelines highlight the
Compendium on respectful maternal and newborn care
August 7, 2025
The compendium supports efforts to end mistreatment and achieve respectful maternal and newborn care. It is published by WHO together with UNFPA, UNICEF and the United Nations’ Special Programme on Human Reproduction (HRP), with support from Jhpiego and the MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership programme.