It’s 2018, so why are women still dying in childbirth? This episode of Everybody Counts, hosted by Jennifer D. Sciubba, a professor of political demography at Rhodes College, explores why maternal mortality is a global issue, what policy solutions can keep mothers healthy, and why valuing women is at the heart of the issue.

Three-fourths of all maternal deaths are caused by delivery-related complications, such as postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorder, and infection. Sarah Barnes, Program Director of the Maternal Health Initiative at the Wilson Center, tells Sciubba that having a skilled birth attendant is vital to reducing a woman’s chance of dying in childbirth. One of the obstacles to growing and professionalizing midwifery in many societies, however, is the priority given to predominately male doctors over their predominately female midwife colleagues.

Sciubba also spoke with Jeremy Youde, professor of global health at Australian National University, on the relationship between maternal mortality and women’s place in society more broadly. “If we want to understand what a society values, what a government values, looking at the role of women, looking at maternal mortality is a great way to do that.”

Listen to the podcast to hear more about how maternal mortality intersects with challenges of gender, race, and class in developed and developing countries alike.

Everybody Counts is a podcast about all the ways population trends shape our world, from immigration, to having babies after 40, to the spread of disease. You can subscribe to the series on iTunes or your podcast player of choice.