India’s maternal mortality rate drops further
Annual compound rate of decline was highest in Maharashtra, followed by Andhra Pradesh
New Delhi: India’s maternal mortality rate has further dropped to 167 per one lakh live births, an indication that India will be able to achieve Millennium Development Goal 5 concerning maternal deaths — a feat that the World Health Organisation had earlier claimed would remain unmet. While the MMR in 2010-2012 was 178 per one lakh live births it further dropped to 167 per one lakh live births in 2011-2013.
“At the current annual compound rate of decline of MMR, India will be able to achieve MDG 5. In 1990 Indian’s MMR as per the UN agency eatimates was 560, the drop this time is commendable. We are confident to achieve MDG 5 if the progress continues,” said a senior official in the health ministry.
According to the recent data from the registrar general of india, ministry of home affairs, Kerala continues to register the lowest MMR at 61 per one lakh live births, followed by Maharashtra with MMR of 68 per one lakh live births. Significantly, the MMR also continue to drop in high-burden states like Bihar (208 per one lakh live births) and Uttar Pradesh (285 per one lakh live births).
The annual compound rate of decline was highest in Maharashtra, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Haryana.
Ironically, Dr Nata Menabde, WHO representative to India, had earlier claimed that India would miss 2015 MDG. Dr Menabde had said that India would be able to achieve its unfinished targets only after 2015.
As per the MDG targets, the MMR is to be reduced by three quarters between 1990 to 2015. India has been observing an average annual decline of 5.5 per cent. “Assuming that the annual rate of decline of 5.5 per cent observed between 2004-2006 and 2007-2009 will continue, India’s MMR will decline well below the MDG target,” added the source.