Maternal mortality remains a critical public health issue in India. While some states achieved the target of reducing maternal deaths, there are still states lagging behind. But overall, India has made commendable progress in reducing maternal deaths over the years.
The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) declined from 130 per 100,000 live births in 2014-16 to 97 per 100,000 live births in 2018-20.
Various government initiatives, improved healthcare access and better medical interventions made the Centre achieve the goal of reducing maternal deaths.
What is maternal death?
Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.
The WHO on May 15, 2015, certified India for eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus.
As per the UN, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for MMR is at 70 per 1,00,000 live births. Eight states—Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Karnataka have achieved the target so far.
According to the Health Ministry, India has committed to the UN target by 2030.
In India’s efforts to reduce maternal deaths, the National Health Mission (NHM) plays a crucial role. It includes the reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health, and nutrition strategy, which encompasses multiple programs to improve maternal health outcomes.
According to the latest National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21) report, Institutional births have increased significantly from 79% (2015-16) to 89% (2019-21) at the national level. Institutional delivery is 100% in Kerala, Goa, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu and more than 90% in eighteen other States/Uts.
Even in rural areas, approximately 87% of births are delivered in institutions, while 94% are delivered in urban areas.