India’s Health Milestone: Maternal and Child Mortality Rates on a Decline

14 May India’s Health Milestone: Maternal and Child Mortality Rates on a Decline

This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the Topic India’s Health Milestone: Maternal and Child Mortality Rates on a Decline

SYLLABUS MAPPING:

GS- 2- Social Issue- India’s Health Milestone: Maternal and Child Mortality Rates on a Decline

FOR PRELIMS

What is child and maternal mortality?

FOR MAINS

What are the government programs to stop child and maternal deaths?

Why in the News? 

The Registrar General of India (RGI) has released the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2021, highlighting a significant improvement in India’s maternal and child health indicators. As per the Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality in India (2019–21), the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has declined from 130 per lakh live births in 2014–16 to 93 in 2019–21. Similarly, key child health indicators such as Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR), and Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) have all shown a notable decline. The Sex Ratio at Birth has improved, and the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has reached replacement level at 2.0. These trends indicate steady progress in India’s public health outcomes and the effectiveness of maternal and child health interventions.

What is child mortality and maternal mortality? 

Recent decline trends 

India, 2019-21 based on the Sample Registration System (SRS), the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of the country has shown a marked reduction, declining by 37 points from 130 per lakh live births in 2014–16 to 93 in 2019–21.

India has shown significant progress in health indicators between 2014 and 2021. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) dropped from 39 to 27 per 1000 live births, Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) from 26 to 19, and Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) from 45 to 31. The Sex Ratio at Birth improved from 899 to 913, while the Total Fertility Rate declined from 2.3 to a stable 2.0.

Reasons for the decline in child  and maternal mortality 

1. Improved Institutional Deliveries: Increased access to hospitals and trained medical staff during childbirth reduced maternal and newborn risks.
2. Expanded Immunisation Coverage: Programmes like Mission Indradhanush boosted vaccine access, lowering preventable child deaths.
3. Strengthened Healthcare Infrastructure: Better primary health centres and referral systems improved maternal and child care.
4. Nutrition and Anaemia Control Programs: Schemes like POSHAN Abhiyaan and Anaemia Mukt Bharat helped address malnutrition and iron deficiency.
5. Better Family Planning Services: Wider availability of contraceptives helped reduce high-risk pregnancies and ensured spacing between births.
6. Enhanced Awareness and Education: Increased awareness of maternal and child health practices through ASHAs and community outreach.
7. Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): Financial incentives encouraged institutional births among economically weaker sections.
8. Improved Sanitation and Hygiene: Programs like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan reduced infections and improved child health outcomes.

Policy interventions to reduce child and maternal Mortality

1. National Health Mission (NHM): Focuses on improving maternal and child health services, strengthening health infrastructure, and providing essential healthcare in rural areas.
2. Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): A financial incentive scheme to encourage institutional deliveries, particularly among women from low-income households.
3. POSHAN Abhiyaan: Aimed at improving maternal and child nutrition, reducing malnutrition, and promoting healthy eating habits across the country.
4. Mission Indradhanush: Focuses on expanding immunisation coverage for children, ensuring that all children are vaccinated against preventable diseases.
5. Anaemia Mukt Bharat: Aims to reduce anaemia among women and children by providing iron and folic acid supplementation and promoting better nutrition.
6. Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK): Focuses on early detection and intervention for children, ensuring they have access to healthcare and treatment for health issues at an early stage.
7. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): Provides food, health services, and early childhood education to improve the well-being of children, especially those under the age of 6.
8. Family Planning Programs: Promote access to contraceptive methods to ensure better spacing between births and reduce high-risk pregnancies.
9. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: Focused on improving sanitation, hygiene, and access to clean drinking water, reducing infections that affect maternal and child health.

Still an issue persistent in the child and maternal Mortality

1. Limited Access to Healthcare in Remote Areas: Rural and remote regions still face a shortage of healthcare infrastructure and skilled medical professionals, affecting maternal and child health services.
2. Poor Nutritional Status: Malnutrition remains a key factor contributing to both maternal and child mortality, with many women and children facing deficiencies in essential nutrients.
3. High Prevalence of Anaemia: Anaemia among women and children continues to be widespread, which can lead to complications during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as increased infant mortality.
4. Unskilled Birth Attendants: Despite progress in institutional deliveries, many women still give birth at home with untrained attendants, increasing the risks of complications.
5. Early Marriages and Adolescent Pregnancies: Early marriage and adolescent pregnancies lead to higher risks of complications during childbirth, contributing to both maternal and child mortality.
6. Lack of Awareness and Education: Limited knowledge about maternal and child health practices, including the importance of antenatal care, immunisation, and safe childbirth, hinders efforts to reduce mortality.
7. Inadequate Emergency Medical Services: Emergency obstetric care is still not universally available, and the lack of timely interventions during complications can result in deaths.
8. Socio-Economic Inequalities: Poverty, low socio-economic status, and lack of access to healthcare for marginalised communities continue to drive high rates of maternal and child mortality in certain regions.

Way to eliminate child and maternal Mortality 

1. Strengthen Healthcare Infrastructure: Improve healthcare facilities, especially in rural and remote areas, by building more primary healthcare centres, providing essential medical equipment, and ensuring the availability of skilled healthcare professionals.
2. Improve Access to Skilled Birth Attendants: Ensure that every birth is attended by a trained healthcare professional, including doctors, nurses, or midwives, to handle complications and prevent maternal and child deaths.
3. Expand Immunisation Programs: Increase coverage of immunisation programs like Mission Indradhanush to ensure that all children receive vaccinations for preventable diseases, thus reducing infant mortality.
4. Promote Antenatal and Postnatal Care: Enhance access to regular antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) services, including check-ups, nutritional counselling, and monitoring of maternal health during pregnancy and after childbirth.
5. Increase Nutrition and Address Malnutrition: Implement programs that focus on improving maternal and child nutrition, such as POSHAN Abhiyaan, which provide essential nutrients and reduce risks associated with malnutrition during pregnancy and infancy.
6. Focus on Family Planning and Spacing: Ensure access to family planning services to reduce adolescent pregnancies and high-risk births. Encourage birth spacing to prevent complications in subsequent pregnancies.
7. Improve Emergency Medical Services: Strengthen emergency obstetric care services, including transport for complicated deliveries, to ensure that timely medical intervention is available in cases of maternal and child health emergencies.
8. Raise Awareness and Education: Promote awareness campaigns targeting communities, especially in rural areas, about the importance of prenatal care, institutional deliveries, safe motherhood, and child health practices.

Conclusion 

India has made significant strides in reducing maternal and child mortality, as evidenced by the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) Report. The decline in key health indicators such as Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR), and Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) reflects the positive impact of targeted health interventions and policies. Government initiatives such as Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), POSHAN Abhiyaan, Mission Indradhanush, and expanded immunisation programs have been crucial in improving health outcomes. However, persistent challenges, particularly in rural and remote areas, poor nutritional status, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and socio-economic inequalities, continue to hinder progress. To further eliminate maternal and child mortality, India must strengthen healthcare infrastructure, increase access to skilled birth attendants, expand immunisation, promote antenatal and postnatal care, and address malnutrition.

Download Plutus IAS Current Affairs (Eng) 14th May 2025

Prelims Questions

Q. With reference to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2021, consider the following statements:
1. The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India has declined from 130 per lakh live births in 2014–16 to 93 per lakh live births in 2019–21.
2. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in India has increased from 39 per 1000 live births in 2014 to 35 per 1000 live births in 2021.
3. The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in India has consistently remained at 2.3 between 2014 and 2021.
How many of the above-given statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: A

 Mains Questions

Q.  Discuss the reasons behind the significant decline in maternal and child mortality in India in recent years.

                                                                                                                                                (250 words, 15 marks)