Maternal Mortality and Inadequate Healthcare
In India, maternal healthcare is neglected, especially in rural and remote areas.
- India has earned the dubious
distinction of ranking second globally, along with the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC), in maternal deaths by recording around 19,000 fatalities in 2023,
as per a UN report. Nigeria recorded the highest maternal deaths. Going by the
data, India is losing 52 would be mothers daily, which cannot be consoled by
the fact that the country has managed to bring down the maternal mortality
ratio considerably during the last decade- from 384 deaths per one lakh births
to 103 deaths in 2023. Rather, the situation demands immediate corrective measures
to prevent maternity-related deaths by changing our policies and programmes
according to the ground realities. It is also time to evaluate the success of
various programmes initiated by the government, like Janani Suraksha Yojana,
Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan, etc., as the present statistics indicate a
systematic failure. This is also evident that the maternal mortality rate is
uneven in the country. While it is almost negligible in states like Kerala,
which has highest literacy rate in the country or in Tamil Nadu, one of the
most industrialised states, the rate is abnormally high in states like Bihar
and Uttar Pradesh.
-
- Pregnancy is one of the most vulnerable
stages in a woman’s life due to various factors like biological, psychological,
and social. To ensure well-being of both the mother and the developing baby,
prenatal care including adequate nutrition and healthy lifestyle is vital.
However, in India, maternal healthcare is neglected, especially in rural and
remote areas. The prevalence of child marriages, though prohibited under the
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, is one of the reasons behind high
maternal mortality rate in the country, as untimely pregnancies can pose
serious risks and challenges for mothers, both physically and mentally. This
calls for stringent implementation of government policies and programmes,
besides creating awareness across the country. Availability of quality
healthcare services is vital for addressing any complications during the
gestation period or child birth. Sadly, pregnant women are forced to travel
miles together to reach the nearest health centres for delivery, risking the well-being
both mothers and the child. This glaring issue should be tackled by setting up
medical facilities at block-levels and in rural areas. In a nutshell, our
healthcare system needs an overhaul.
