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News: India’s maternal mortality ratio has decreased from 122 to 103 (maternal deaths per lakh live births) between 2015-17 and 2017-19, shown by SRS data. India’s SDG target is to bring its MMR below 70 by 2030.
What can be done to improve further?
Understanding disparities: Need for different state or region wise solutions. For instance:
- Kerala – MMR improved from 42 to 30, showing pushing up standards from already high levels.
- Uttar Pradesh – MMR is 167, but it has delivered a dramatic 49 points improvement from 216.
- West Bengal – MMR worsened from 94 to 109.
Centre can assess different schemes objectively and increase investment or introduce reform wherever needed.
Collect data on how pandemic has hurt reproductive care services:
- Need to prevent reversal of gains as major interventions such as Institutional deliveries and access to Asha workers was reduced.
- Need to ensure these services are back on track as Covid deaths drop.
Beyond this, India should take inspiration from countries that have already brought their MMR down to single digits – like Belarus, Poland and the UK.
Source: This post is based on the article “May all mothers live:” published in Live Mint on 15th March 2022.
