FSRR Proposal

Group 7

Maternal Health in India

Maternal Death or Maternal Mortality is defined by the World Health Organization as

“the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy,
irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related or aggravated by
the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental cause”. The United
Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimated that 289000 women died of pregnancy or
childbirth each year. High number of maternal deaths in some countries of the world indicates
unequal and insufficient provision of medical services and healthcare, which ultimately
widens the gap between the rich and the poor. Also, the disparities are even much higher
within countries, catering to Urban and Rural divide, where Maternal Mortality is relatively
higher in women living in rural areas and poor communities as compared to urban areas.

India is no alien to maternal mortality. Through the years, many steps have been taken
to overcome and reduce the rate of mortality but still there is far way to reach. However, the
story is not uniform throughout India. States like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan have both high
fertility and maternal mortality rates. Whereas, Kerala, Tamil Nadu have rates similar to other
middle-income countries. Other than external/ governmental agents, the major factors
contributing to this variation are the geographical vastness of India, and its sociocultural
diversity. Becoming a mother is women’s choice but, the aids for her in antenatal and
postnatal care must be taken into consideration. Around 38% still give birth to child at home.
The unsterile conditions make her more prone to diseases and ultimately death. Other way
round economic condition is another cause. When the doctors at rural PHCs are inefficient in
being present at work place the rural women is forced to go to private institute but, her
financial condition stops her.

Though there is decrease of mortality in recent years, the statistics is still

insignificant. Though India is taking considerable steps to bring about social and economical
changes while treading on the path of development, it is still straggling to provide better
health care to its people, specifically to certain vulnerable groups, women being one among
them.

Causes
 There are various schemes enforced like the national safe motherhood programme,
Janani Suraksha Yojana, maternity and child health care, ASHA, RCH etc., expansion of
health care centres, blood bank facility. However, reasons for failure in implementation are
negligence of authorities towards it, managerial differences, less attention or ignorance.
Health sector in India is neglected and is lobbied. The learned and urban communities get
access to everything but, the rural mass remains unreached due to various factors. The causes
go on and on.

Other factors which act as an impediment in receiving good health care includes lack
of awareness among the individuals, lack of family planning awareness, inadequate services,
insufficient nutrition to pregnant women or mothers, and prevailing cultural beliefs in the
communities, regardless of Urban and Rural settings. As almost every day, around 830
women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, major among them
being severe bleeding (after childbirth), infections, high blood pressure during pregnancy,
complications from delivery etc. Most of these complications develop during pregnancy and
are treatable but in some cases complications may exist before pregnancy which worsens
during the pregnancy.

Resolution

The solutions to overcome the rate of mortality is for the government to work in close
association with public sectors and also to govern the assigned tasks. Data collection should
be made mandatory and a check must be kept on its originality and validity. Nothing is ever
impossible but the process needs refinement and planning. Only then the day when India
becomes the country with least maternal mortality is not very far. Skilled care before and
after childbirth can save the lives of both the mother and new-born babies whose health are
closely linked with each other. According to WHO reports, globally in 2015, births in the
richest 20 percent of the households were more than twice as likely to be attended by skilled
health personnel as those in the poorest 20 percent of the households, which indicates that
majority of the births were not attended by midwife, a doctor or a trained nurse. So, if all the
births are attended by the professional doctors it can make a huge difference between life and
death of both mother and child.
Group Members:

Ishita Gupta

Praveen Srinivas

Manish Sahu

Meghana Kothi

Ausmita Sarkar