Significant decline in MMR: Jharkhand's maternal mortality rate drops to 54; State surpasses national target ahead of 2030

Ranchi: Jharkhand has recorded a significant decline in its maternal mortality rate (MMR) over the past decade, govt data has shown.

The state recorded 54 deaths per 1 lakh live births during the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) for 2021-23, being conducted by the Register General of India, against the national average of 88.

Union minister of state for health and family welfare Anupriya Patel tabled the data on March 13 this year.

Notably, the state had recorded an MMR of 76 deaths per lakh live births in SRS 2015-17.

The decline in MMR has now placed Jharkhand well below the Centre’s target of reducing MMR to 70 by 2030. Besides Jharkhand, MMR in Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Karnataka also dipped below 70 deaths per 1 lakh live births.

Health experts in the state attributed the decline in MMR to various govt measures. State nodal officer (maternal health) of National Health Mission Dr Vijay Kishore Rajak said that initiatives such as promotion of institutional deliveries, ensuring specialised antenatal care to pregnant women and employing skilled birth attendants in the health centres to manage complications during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal period, has immensely contributed in reducing MMR in Jharkhand.

“To reduce maternal deaths, quality antenatal care of all pregnant women has been given utmost importance across the state, ensuring four mandatory medical checkups during pregnancy by qualified doctors. The checkups help in timely detection of pregnancy-induced hypertension and other conditions that can be proved fatal to the women during childbirth if not detected and cured at the right time,” he said.

He further said that increase in institutional deliveries also impacted in reduction in maternal mortality rate in the state. “Eighty four in every 100 child births in the state took place in health care centres, which is a very remarkable achievement for the state,” Rajak said.

The state health department has also ensured providing Iron, Folic acid, calcium and other supplements to curb issues of anaemia, ensuring prevention of deaths during childbirths due to low blood count.

Furthermore, the state health department has launched of Newborn Special Care Unit (NBSU) and Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU) even to the grassroots health care centres so that newborns with any difficulties can be treated, lowering neonatal deaths.

Meanwhile, an official in the maternal health wing if NHM, on condition of anonymity said that although the state has achieved the milestone, the challenge lies in sustaining the status in the long run. “Jharkhand attained 70 deaths per lakh child births well before the time mandate. But all stakeholders have to work hard to maintain the MMR and lower that further. Out of around 9 lakh institutional births, about 6 lakh took place in govt health centres in the last financial year, “ the official added.