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What is the News?
The Office of the Registrar General of India has released the Sample Registration System (SRS) special bulletin on Maternal Mortality in India(2017-19).
What are the key findings on Maternal Mortality in India?
The National Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is 103(per one lakh live births) in the country.
Among States, Kerala has emerged on top in maternal and child health. It has recorded the lowest Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of 30 in the country.
Another State which has made significant gains is Maharashtra, whose Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has dipped from 55 to 38.
How has Kerala achieved the lowest Maternal Mortality Ratio(MMR)?
Firstly, Kerala has made substantial investments in setting up high dependency units in every district and in improving 39 delivery points under the Union Health Ministry’s LaQshya (a quality improvement initiative in labour room & maternity operation theaters) Initiative.
Secondly, Confidential Review of Maternal Deaths, an initiative by the Kerala Health Department since 2004-05, laid the foundation for all maternal health improvement initiatives. This initiative was further strengthened by maternal near-miss audits in all districts, to analyze the critical events which resulted in near maternal deaths.
Thirdly, it developed the Quality Standards in Obstetric Care in 2012-13 to focus on the management of some of the common causes of maternal deaths — postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), sepsis and amniotic fluid embolism.
Source: This post is based on the article “Kerala tops in maternal, child health” published in The Hindu on 14th Mar 2022.
