High meternal mortality continues to haunt country

The beautiful facade of Taj Mahal in Agra is a grim reminder of Mumtaz Mahal, Moghul emperor Shah Jahan's favourite queen who died due to complications from repeated childbirths. It is an  unfortunate reality even today in India that thousands of women continue to die during childbirth.

In Gujarat itself, it is estimated that for every one lakh live births, 148 women lose their lives due to pregnancy and childbirth related issues. The birthday of Mahatma Gandhi's wife, Kasturba, April 11, was declared as Safe Motherhood Day following a survey done by Centre for Health, Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness (CHETNA) in 2003 which showed death of a mother every five minutes owing to child bearing.
"Currently, the main issues are antenatal and postnatal care, which are neglected areas. Nearly 25% of deaths occur in the antenatal period as the focus today is only on careful and safe delivery," says  programme officer and maternal health project in-charge, CHETNA, Smitha Vaidya.

Vaidya continued that the situation was grim. The state lacks a proper recording system as functionaries are unable to reach interiors of districts. Also, anaemia continues to be the major killer in most cases.

According to CHETNA's 2011 study, 59% adolescents, 32% pregnant women and 28% lactating mothers mentioned absence of nutritious diet and inadequate food intake as the prime causes of anaemia.

The 2011 study had also put forth that one mother died every eight  minutes, as compared to 2003 when one mother died every five minutes. Although a dip, fast paced improvement is required, said Vaidya.

"Of the total number of women who register with the public health system, only 19.9% received complete antenatal checkups whereas 56.5% women delivered in institutions and 59.5% received postnatal checkups within two weeks of delivery. This is despite the fact that 55% maternal deaths take place during postpartum period, 20% during delivery and 25% during pregnancy," Vaidya mentioned.

At a conference on reproductive and child health (RCH), Dr Dileep Mavalankar, dean of Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar, had said that the Central government needs to increase funding at least three times to improve healthcare in this area.

In his presentation, Dr Mavalankar said that the weak health system is plagued with multiple problems in areas such as finance,  human resources, infrastructure, supply system and information and monitoring system.  There is lack of health structures for primary care. Urban poor and migrants are often deprived of benefits. There are many hospitals and private providers in urban areas but not much free care, he added.