maternal mortality falls below 100

The official figures mark a new and important advance in the country. Until a few years ago, India was among the countries with the highest number of deaths of women during childbirth. Now it is possible to get below 70, as called for by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. But strong imbalances still persist between the different Indian states.

New Delhi () – A few days before Christmas, when the world once again contemplates the most extraordinary birth, lndia is spreading good news that is worth highlighting. The latest official survey covering the 2018-2020 triennium shows that, for the first time in the country, the maternal mortality rate has fallen below 100. This means that for every 100,000 births, 97 deaths during childbirth were recorded. Although the figure is still very high, the trend shows a rapid decline. It is enough to remember that in India this index was 557 in 1990 and that in 2015 it was still at 175.

Considering that there were some 24 million births in India in 2021, the reduction in the maternal mortality ratio also means life for thousands of women and their children. In addition, the news has global relevance, since until a few years ago India was one of the countries with the highest number of deaths related to childbirth.

This notable improvement has been possible mainly thanks to the expansion of the network of Indian health centers that assist women in labor. The number of women giving birth at home has also decreased, making it possible to more adequately treat complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

It must be added that the achievement is still a partial goal: the UN has included the reduction of maternal mortality among the Sustainable Development Goals, progress in the fight against poverty, malnutrition and precarious sanitary conditions. All countries in the world are required to achieve these goals before 2030. In the case of maternal mortality, the target it must be below 70 deaths per 100,000 births. So while there is still a long way to go in India, the goal is not impossible.

To achieve this, it is crucial to extend progress to some of the poorest areas of the country. Official data shows very significant differences between the different Indian states. Although there are states like Kerala that have a maternal mortality ratio of 19 (a level similar to that of the United States), there are others where the situation is still very serious. For example, in Assam, 195 women per 100,000 births continue to die, 173 in Madhya Pradesh, 167 in Uttar Pradesh (the most populous Indian state). But even in a state like Bihar, where the rate has dropped to 112, 11 women per 100,000 births still die in some districts. And the experts point out that, in the analysis of individual districts, the correlation between deaths in childbirth and the results of poverty reduction and access to health centers is evident.

Regarding age, the age group with the highest concentration of deaths in childbirth is 20 to 24 years old (32%), followed by 25 to 29 years old (30%).

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