India records 7.4% drop in maternal mortality rate: Survey

According to the sample registration system (SRS) survey report, whose findings were released on Thursday, India's current mortality rate stands at 113 and it has gone down by 7.4 percent compared to the 2015 -17 study. Maharashtra has retained its second position among states with low maternal mortality rate.

New Delhi:India’s maternal mortality rate at present is 113 and it has gone down by 7.4 per cent compared to 2015 -17 study, said sample registration system (SRS) survey report released today.

The maternal mortality rate survey 2016-18 which has been conducted by the Registrar General of India (SRG) said that Kerala (43), Maharashtra (46), Tamil Nadu (60) are the top three states leading the list of states.

According to the survey, Tamil Nadu (60), Telangana (63) and Andhra Pradesh (74) are three other states who have found place among the first five states in the country with low mortality rate.

The mortality rate was 122 in 2015-17 and 130 in 2014-2016. This is calculated as maternal deaths to women in the ages 15-49 per lakh of women in that age group, reported under SRS survey report.

The maternal mortality rate refers to deaths due to birth or pregnancy-related complications per 1,00,000 registered live births.

Maharashtra has retained its second position among states with low maternal mortality rate.

Eleven states individually (Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, West Bengal, Uttarakhand) have achieved the National Health Profile target.

As per the survey, Telangana has shown the maximum percentage decline of 17.1 percent, Rajasthan has shown the maximum point decline of 22 and States of Kerala, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Chhattisgarh have shown an increase in the MMR as per the previous estimates.