India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio improved to 103 in 2017-19
- The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in India showed significant improvement at 103 for the period 2017-19, according to the official data released by the Registrar General of India on March 14, 2022.
- This rate was 122 in 2015-17 and 113 in 2016-18.
- MMR is defined as the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births during a given period.
- As per the Sustainable Development Goals (target 3.1), the global maternal mortality ratio should be less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
- MMR is grouped into four categories as
- Very High – 130 or more maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
- High – 100-130 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
- Low – 71-100 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
- Very Low – 70 or less maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
- Key findings
- Kerala registered dramatic improvement in MMR at 30. The highest level of improvement by any other state.
- Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar registered maximum drop in MMR.
- West Bengal, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh recorded worst increase in MMR compared to previous survey.
- Very high MMR was recorded in seven Indian states. These are Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha and Assam.
- High MMR was seen in Punjab, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
- Low MMR was in Haryana and Karnataka.
- Remaining states were under Very Low MMR category
Source: The Times of India