India's maternal mortality ratio reduced by 77%; WHO commends progress
WHO has commended India's progress in reducing the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by 77%, from 556 per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 130 per 100,000 live births in 2016. It said this progress puts India on track towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of an MMR below 70 by 2030. India's present MMR is below Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target.
Institutional deliveries have tripled to 52%
WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, said the quality maternal health services are easily accessible with the coverage of essential maternal health services having doubled since 2005. Also, the proportion of institutional deliveries in public facilities has almost tripled, from 18% in 2005 to 52% in 2016 (including private facilities, institutional deliveries now stand at 79%), she said.
India puts significant emphasis on mitigating determinants of maternal health
State-subsidized demand-side financing like the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) which allows all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions free transport and no-expense delivery, including caesarian section has largely closed the urban-rural divide traditionally seen in institutional births, Singh claimed. Thirdly, Singh said the country has put significant emphasis on mitigating the social determinants of maternal health.
Only 27% girls married before the age of 18
Women are also entering marriage at an older age, with just 27% now wedded before the age of 18. "Campaigns such as the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan have been introduced with great impact, allowing women access to antenatal check-ups, obstetric gynecologists and to track high-risk pregnancies, exactly what is needed to make further gains and achieve the SDG targets," Singh said.
68% women are able to read and write
Now, 68% women are able to read and write, Singh said. India has registered a significant decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio, recording a 22% reduction in such deaths since 2013, according to a Sample Registration System bulletin released earlier this week. The MMR - number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births - has declined from 167 in 2011-2013 to 130 in 2014-2016.
