Maternal Health Situation in India: A Case Study

Abstract

Since the beginning of the Safe Motherhood Initiative, India has accounted for at least a quarter of maternal deaths reported globally. India's goal is to lower maternal mortality to less than 100 per 100,000 livebirths but that is still far away despite its programmatic efforts and rapid economic progress over the past two decades. Geographical vastness and sociocultural diversity mean that maternal mortality varies across the states, and uniform implementation of health-sector reforms is not possible. The case study analyzes the trends in maternal mortality nationally, the maternal healthcare-delivery system at different levels, and the implementation of national maternal health programmes, including recent innovative strategies. It identifies the causes for limited success in improving maternal health and suggests measures to rectify them. It recommends better reporting of maternal deaths and implementation of evidence-based, focused strategies along with effective monitoring for rapid progress. It also stresses the need for regulation of the private sector and encourages further public-private partnerships and policies, along with a strong political will and improved management capacity for improving maternal health.

Maternal Mortality in India: An Overview of social causes

“…www.ijsrp.org initiatives taken so far to curb the mortality rates in the country (Vora, 2009). Although, haemorrhage, hypertension and anemia, have been reported to be the primary causes of maternal deaths across the country, other underlying causes like socio-economic disparity, rural-urban differences, education level of women, caste and gender-based inequity etc.…”

Improving access to maternity services: an overview of cash transfer and voucher schemes in South Asia

“…45 Another study reports that 66% of Chiranjeevi Yojana beneficiaries were satisfied with the services. 43 So far, the scheme attributes its successes to the widespread availability of private obstetrician-gynaecologists in rural areas willing to collaborate with the government scheme, 46 though other reports question the popularity of the scheme among rural providers. 47 Such claims, the efficacy of the scheme's incentives and declarations of transparency in its financial arrangements, all need to be evaluated.…”

Improving maternal health through social accountability: A case study from Orissa, India

“…Better targeting of services to the poorest women is needed. Health systems struggle to cope with the increased demand for institutional deliveries and programme monitoring is weak (Vora et al 2009, Lim et al 2010.…”