Mothers of Madhya Pradesh: A Story of Progress and Challenges

In 2015, the United Nations launched its 17 goals—popularly known as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—for ensuring sustainable development for all by 2030. India is also a signatory to it and its achievement will have a global impact since one-sixth of the world라이브 바카라 population lives in this country.  

One of the SDG targets was to reduce the maternal mortality rate—the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births—to less than 70 per 1,00,00 live births. Though the country has done considerably well in reducing it and bringing it down to 97, the state results have shown spatial heterogeneity. One such state with a higher MMR is Madhya Pradesh, a state nestled in the heart of India and home to over 70 million people.  

Hence, it becomes pertinent for policymakers, analysts and other stakeholders to analyse and address the maternal profile of the state and address significant strides and continuous challenges in reducing maternal deaths in Madhya Pradesh.  

The First Step In The Right Direction: Decline In MMR  

According to recent data from the Press Bureau of India (PIB), Madhya Pradesh has witnessed a substantial decline in its Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) over the past decade. The MMR plummeted from 335 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2005-06 to 173 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017-18. This remarkable decline is a testament to the tireless efforts of the state government and community-led initiatives aimed at improving maternal healthcare in Madhya Pradesh.  

Despite this progress, the MMR in the state remains higher than the national average of 97 deaths per 100,000 live births. The persistent gap between Madhya Pradesh라이브 바카라 MMR and the national average underscores the need for sustained state and community-led initiatives. To further reduce maternal mortality, it is essential to continue strengthening healthcare infrastructure, enhancing access to quality maternal care, and promoting community engagement and education. 

Health Infrastructure And Institutions

Institutional deliveries are a crucial factor in reducing maternal mortality. The National Family Health Survey 5 (NFHS-5) data reveals that the percentage of institutional deliveries in Madhya Pradesh has increased from 80 per cent in 2015-16 to 90.2 per cent in 2019-21. Despite this positive flip, the state라이브 바카라 health infrastructural gaps still remain a barrier in reducing Maternal Mortality.  

According to the Reproductive Health Survey (RHS) data, though there has been an increase in infrastructural capacity since 2005, courtesy National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), there is 27.51 per cent shortfall in Sub Health Centres (SHCs), 46.95 per cent shortfall in Primary Health Care (PFC) centres and 45.31 per cent shortfall in Community Health Care (CHC) centres in the state. These inadequate facilities, shortage of trained staff and poor access to emergency care in healthcare centres are major obstacles to reducing maternal mortality rates. These infrastructural gaps prevent timely interventions, particularly in rural areas, hindering the effectiveness of maternal health initiatives. 

Antenatal Care

Antenatal Care (ANC) is essential for ensuring the health and well-being of both mothers and their unborn babies. The NFHS-5 data shows that the percentage of women receiving ANC in Madhya Pradesh has increased, but there라이브 바카라 still a significant gap in coverage. In 2019-21, 75.4 per cent of women received ANC in their first trimester, compared to 53 per cent in 2015-16. However, the data also reveals that only 57.5 per cent of women received the recommended four or more ANC visits. This disparity highlights the need for improved access to ANC services, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas. 

The Nutrition Concern 

Despite an increase in the consumption of iron and folic acid supplements among pregnant women for 180 days in Madhya Pradesh (31.8 per cent in NFHS-5 from 9.2 per cent in NFHS-4), anaemia rates have only decreased marginally (from 54.6 per cent in NFHS-4 to 52.9 per cent in NFHS-5). There may be several factors, such as inadequate absorption, poor dietary divers, and inconsistent supplementation, affecting this phenomenon.  

An Obstruction To Maternal Care 

The Out of Pocket (OOP) expenditure has increased from Rs 1,481 in 2015-16 to Rs 1,619 in 2019-21. This may be a consequence of the prevalent inflation, but this creates financial barriers to essential care and significantly impacts maternal health. When pregnant women and their families are required to pay for medical services, it often leads to delayed or skipped treatments, inadequate prenatal care and fewer visits to healthcare facilities (one already witnessed a decrease in a number of visits in ANC from the first to the last). This financial strain disproportionately affects low-income families, especially in rural areas, where access to healthcare is already limited.  

Domestic Violence In Pregnant Women

While NFHS-5 report shows a decline in domestic violence against pregnant women in the state (3.3 per cent in NFHS-4 to 2.3 per cent in NFHS-5), it remains a significant cause for concern. Many women still face physical and emotional abuse, which negatively impacts their mental health, well-being, and overall pregnancy outcomes. There needs to be stronger state and community support systems and awareness programmes to safeguard vulnerable women. 

Progress In Post Natal Care: A Step Forward 

While the number of mothers receiving postpartum care from a doctor/nurse/Lady Health Visitor/Auxiliary Nurse Midwife/midwife/other health personnel within two days of delivery has seen an encouraging increase (83.5 per cent in NFHS-5 from 54.3 per cent in NFHS-4), there remains a significant gap in ensuring that all women have access to this critical support. As progress continues, the goal should be to provide comprehensive postpartum care to every mother, leaving no one behind.  

Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure And Promoting Community Engagement 

While Madhya Pradesh has made significant progress in improving maternal health profile and outcomes by setting up a task force and initiating health apps like ANMOL (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife On-Line), there라이브 바카라 still much work to be done. To further reduce maternal mortality and improve maternal health outcomes, both federal and central government must focus on strengthening healthcare infrastructure, promoting community engagement through ASHA/frontline workers, and addressing the socio-economic determinants of health. There is also a need to educate and economically empower women, who are also well-versed and aware of their rights, and claims as policy beneficiaries. By working together, one can ensure that mothers in Madhya Pradesh receive the care and support they need to survive and thrive. The state라이브 바카라 progress is a testament to the power of collective action, and we must continue to build on this momentum to achieve SDGs targets and create an equitable and brighter future for all moving beyond their diverse threads of identities each representing unique journeys and perspectives.  

Note: The article uses maternal health profile parameters as prescribed by NFHS-5  

Shambhavi Mani is Assistant professor, Department of Political Science, Vivekananda College, University of Delhi