Mothers require better healthcare, not just access, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• A Lancet study highlights India's maternal health program successes but notes a slowdown in progress since 2015.
• Maternal mortality in 2023 was approximately one-fifth of the 1990 level, with the most significant decline occurring in the early 2000s.
• India accounts for 1 in 10 maternal deaths globally, facing challenges in meeting the SDG target of 70 deaths per lakh births by 2030.
• The Covid-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in maternal healthcare, with disruptions in services and reduced antenatal visits.

Detailed Insights:

• The initial decline in maternal mortality was driven by effective government interventions, increased institutional deliveries, and greater public awareness.
• Key challenges include haemorrhages, infections, and blood pressure-related disorders during pregnancy, indicating gaps in healthcare quality.
• Government initiatives like LaQshya and Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan aim to improve care quality and tracking, but implementation varies across states.
• States like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and those in South India are progressing well, while UP, MP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Assam face significant healthcare system gaps.
• Addressing deficits requires strengthening primary and secondary healthcare, improving emergency transport, equipping labor rooms, and ensuring specialist availability.
• Social determinants of health, such as women's nutrition and social agency, must be addressed alongside healthcare infrastructure improvements for better outcomes.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Maternal Mortality Rate: Number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, reflecting reproductive health status.
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): A collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all".
• LaQshya: A quality improvement initiative focused on enhancing labor room standards and care quality during delivery.