VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh holds the fourth place among states by registering the Maternal Mortality Rate at 45 per one lakh live births - against the national average of 97.
Taking part in a workshop on ‘maternal and child death surveillance and ending preventable maternal mortality’ here on Thursday, health special chief secretary Krishna Babu said the state reported 362 maternal deaths last year - with the highest share from Kakinada at 27, followed by Assluri Sitaramaraju at 25, and Anantapur and Eluru at 23.
The causes for the maternal deaths were hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, postpartum hemorrhage and sepsis.
On the timing of maternal deaths, he said that 26 per cent of these were antenatal and 74 per cent postnatal. Among all maternal deaths, 32 per cent occurred within 48 hours of delivery, 43 per cent within two days to 42 days and 26 per cent deaths in the antenatal period.
The senior official underlined the need to focus attention on postnatal care.
The district-wise data on maternal deaths showed that Kakinada, ASR, Anantapur, Eluru, Anakapalli and Vizianagaram reported more maternal deaths than the state average while Konaseema, Nellore and Nandyal reported less maternal deaths. This could be due to underreporting, it is suspected.
