Marked improvement in maternal, child health indicators: Government

NEW DELHI: India has witnessed a significant improvement in key maternal and child health indicators between 2014 and 2021, according to a health ministry statement. The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has declined by 37 points from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 93 in 2019-21, the statement mentioned, citing the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report-2021 released by the Registrar General of India (RGI) on Wednesday.

Similarly, the downward trend of child mortality indicators continued, the ministry added. "The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has dropped from 39 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 27 per 1,000 live births in 2021.

"The Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) has declined from 26 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 19 per 1,000 live births in 2021. The Under-Five Mortality Rate has also improved, dropping from 45 in 2014 to 31 per 1,000 live births in 2021," it said.

Eight states have already attained the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) MMR target - less than or equal to 70 by 2030. Kerala (20), Maharashtra (38), Telangana (45), Andhra Pradesh (46), Tamil Nadu (49), Jharkhand (51), Gujarat (53), and Karnataka (63) are among the top performers, according to the SRS-2021 report.

The ministry said India's progress in the reduction of maternal and child mortality indicators has outpaced global averages.