News: Recently, Puducherry has emerged as the first Union Territory in the country to bring down maternal mortality to zero.
About Maternal Mortality (MM)
- Definition: Maternal mortality refers to the death of a woman during pregnancy or within 42 days of pregnancy termination.
- The cause of death must be related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, excluding accidental or incidental causes.
- It is a critical public health issue, highlighting the quality and accessibility of healthcare services for women.
- Key Indicators of Maternal Mortality:
- Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): It is defined as the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births during a given time period.
- As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2021, the MMR of the country has shown a marked reduction, declining by 37 points from 130 per lakh live births in 2014–16 to 93 in 2019–21.
- SDG Target: India is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) to 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
Trends in Maternal Mortality in India
- WHO Certification for Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination: On May 15, 2015, India was certified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus.
- States Meeting SDG Target for MMR: Eight states—Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Karnataka—have achieved the SDG target.
- Findings from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21):
- Antenatal Care (ANC) Visits: The proportion of pregnant women who had an ANC visit in the first trimester increased from 59% (NFHS-4, 2015-16) to 70% (NFHS-5, 2019-21).
- Four or More ANC Visits: The percentage of women receiving the recommended four or more ANC visits increased from 51% (2015-16) to 59% (2019-21).
- Institutional Births: Institutional births rose significantly from 79% (2015-16) to 89% (2019-21) at the national level. In Kerala, Goa, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu, institutional delivery is 100%.
- Rural vs Urban Institutional Births: In rural areas, about 87% of births occur in institutions, compared to 94% in urban areas.
