नवीनतम
India among countries with highest total maternal deaths in 2023
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: India was among the countries in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with the highest number of maternal deaths in 2023 of 24,700, translating to a maternal mortality ratio of 116 per one lakh livebirths, according to a new global analysis published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Women's Health journal.
Estimates suggest that Pakistan saw a total of 10,300 maternal deaths the same year, while the African countries of Ethiopia and Nigeria had 11,900 and 32,900 maternal deaths, respectively.
Researchers, led by those from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington and global collaborators, noted that though maternal deaths have declined over the past three decades, progress has slowed in recent years and remains uneven across countries.
WHAT MATERNAL MORTALITY MEANS
Maternal mortality refers to deaths of women during pregnancy, childbirth, or within a year after delivery due to pregnancy-related causes.
Scientists measure this using the maternal mortality ratio (MMR), the number of maternal deaths for every 1 lakh live births.
Globally, the study estimates the MMR in 2023 was around 190 deaths per 1 lakh births.
Although this is a significant improvement from 1990, when the global ratio was more than 320 deaths per 1 lakh births, experts say the numbers are still far from safe levels in many parts of the world.
GLOBAL TARGET STILL FAR AWAY FOR MANY COUNTRIES
Under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), countries aim to reduce maternal deaths to fewer than 70 deaths per 1 lakh births by 2030.
However, the study found that more than half the countries studied — 104 out of 204 — have not yet reached this target.
In many of these countries, maternal mortality remains very high, with some recording more than 140 deaths per 1 lakh births.
Researchers say progress that improved rapidly during the early 2000s has now slowed or even reversed in several regions since 2015.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN CAUSES
Most maternal deaths occur due to preventable complications during pregnancy and childbirth, including:
* Severe bleeding after delivery
* High blood pressure disorders like pre-eclampsia
* Infections
* Unsafe abortions
* Complications during labour
* Experts say many of these deaths can be prevented through timely medical care, skilled birth attendants and access to emergency obstetric services.
INDIA'S PROGRESS OF MATERNAL HEALTH
India has made significant progress in reducing maternal deaths over the past two decades, largely due to improvements in institutional deliveries, maternal health programmes and better access to antenatal care.
According to the Sample Registration System (SRS), India’s maternal mortality ratio declined from around 556 deaths per 1 lakh births in 1990 to about 97 deaths per 1 lakh births in recent years.
While this represents a major improvement, India still needs further reductions to meet the SDG target of below 70.
Public health experts say continued investment in rural healthcare, skilled birth attendance, emergency obstetric care and maternal nutrition will be critical to sustain progress.
