Maternal mortality rates in Haitian hospitals have seen a significant increase, rising from 250 to 350 deaths per 100,000 live births between February 2022 and April 2025, according to data from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
This rise coincides with escalating gang violence in Port-au-Prince, which has severely disrupted access to maternity services. Many health facilities in the capital are no longer operational or accessible, particularly in poorer areas like Bel Air and Tabarre. A clinic in Cité Soleil, for example, was forced to close in May due to gang violence.
It is estimated that 60% of births in Port-au-Prince now take place without medical care, often at home, in camps, or on the streets. Complications such as haemorrhage, infections, and hypertension frequently go untreated, becoming leading causes of maternal mortality.
The situation has led to difficult choices for pregnant women, with some, like 45-year-old Françoise, risking travel to temporary clinics in gang-controlled areas for essential care. Françoise, who is eight months pregnant and has a condition increasing her risk of eclampsia, attended a pop-up clinic in a deserted school in Bel Air, where gunshots were reported outside during her visit.
Haiti has experienced deepening chaos since the assassination of president Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Approximately 1.4 million Haitians are internally displaced, and over half the population faces high levels of food insecurity, with more than 6 million people needing urgent humanitarian assistance.