Background:
Maternal Mortality is one of the leading causes of death among African women. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals state that by 2030, the global maternal mortality rate should be lower than 70 per 100,000 live births. This research aims to study the evolution of Maternal Mortality in Central Africa.

Methods:
Maternal and population data of the countries in Central Africa ((Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe) were extracted from UNICEF mortality databases from 2000 to 2017 (2017 being last the available data) The Regional mortality rates were estimated by weighting each country mortality rate with its population. Joinpoint regression was performed. The annual percentage change (APC) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) was calculated for the region and each country.

Results:
In the Central African region, maternal mortality decreased by 35.84%, from 798.35 per 100,000 in 2000 to 512.19 in 2017. The APC during the whole period was –2.7% per year (95% IC –2.8; –2.5). We detected three joinpoints in 2002, 2006, and 2011. Since 2006, the APC has been progressively decreasing, first to –2.4% in 2006–11 and later to –2.0% in 2011–14. Congo was the country with a higher decrease with an APC of -4.1% (95% IC -4.8;4.1), while Chad was the country in the region with the lower APC1.4% (-1.5,-1.3). We detected a slowdown in maternal mortality reduction in the region since the economic crisis that began in 2007.

Conclusion:
Although Central Africa has experienced a considerable reduction in maternal mortality, there is still a long way to go to reach the target United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.