MATERNAL MORTALITY RATIO DROPS IN STATE.
Context: According to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) 2015-17 bulletin for Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) released by the Registrar General of India Karnataka’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has declined by 10.2%.
KEY FINDINGS
- Karnataka is the only State in the country that has seen more than10% decline in MMR, indicating the number of women dying during childbirth has come down significantly
- Karnataka continues to remain at 11th position in the country and fifth among southern States.
- While Kerala tops the list with the lowest MMR at 42 per lakh live births, Assam has the highest at 229 per lakh live births.
Reasons for the reduction in maternal mortality in state
- The Decline may be attributed to the collective efforts by health workers who have created awareness on institutional deliveries.
- The effective implementation of popular schemes such as Tayi Bhagya, Tayi Bhagya Plus, PrasuthiAraike, Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka, Madilu, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakrama
- The State has exhibited effective monitoring and evaluation of the maternal health programme at all levels through regular reviews by top officials and Ministers.
WAY FORWARD
- Currently in Karnataka, we have 98.5% institutional deliveries and the challenge is to make it 100 percent.
- Our Endeavour should be to reduce maternal deaths still further by effectively implementing the maternal health schemes.
- Maternal mortalities are high in districts like Kalaburagi, Raichur, Gadag, Koppal, Yadgir, Bidar, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Ballari, Davangere, and Shivamogga.
- This is mainly because of poor health-seeking behavior among people here.
- We need to increase the institutional deliveries here through intensified awareness campaigns.
Maternal Mortality Ratio
- Thematernal mortality ratio (MMR) is defined as the number of maternal deaths during a given time period per 100,000 live births during the same time period.
- The MMR is a significant indicator that defines the public health of a State.
- The maternal mortality ratio is a key performance indicator for efforts to improve the health and safety of mothers before, during, and after childbirth per country worldwide.
