The number of women dying every year during child birth in Uttar Pradesh may have come down to 359 per lakh from 440 per lakh. However, even at the improved rate, as many as 19,745 mothers die annually. Worse is that these mothers are falling prey to preventable deaths. On an average, 55 lakh women deliver newborns in UP every year.
The UP government's presentation to National Programme Coordination Committee (dated May 4, 2011) throws light on the cause of maternal deaths in the state. Citing an audit of 431 maternal deaths reported between November 2010 and March 2011, it says, "Anaemia is the major cause of death killing around 43% pregnant women."
"Anaemia is a preventable cause. It can be easily avoided by pre-natal examinations. Unfortunately, one in three women in UP do not receive the mandatory ante-natal check ups," said Shakuntala Joshi, a health activist. Sepsis or whole body inflammation due to infection in pregnant women contributed for another 28% deaths. This too is a preventable cause, as hygienic practices can avoid sepsis in nine out of ten cases.
Besides this, the health department must not forget that UP still records maximum number of maternal deaths after Assam. It is far from the current national average of 212 deaths (which was 254 earlier). And there is a long way to achieve the millennium development goal of bringing MMR to 109 by 2015. To note, MMR is the measure of number of women aging between 15 and 49 years dying due to maternal causes per one lakh live births. Data gathered from all states between 2007 and 2009 has been assessed by sample registration system (SRS).
Nationally, Assam has shown the maximum improvement though it still records the highest MMR of 390. Kerala continues to be the best state with lowest MMR of 81. Bihar (from 312 to 261) and Rajasthan (from 388 to 318) which are believed to be doing better than UP on overall health scenario, are behind UP on this count. With an improvement of 26 and 14 points respectively, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have achieved millennium development goal targets too.
Though much better than the national average and close to MDG target, West Bengal is the only state where maternal health scenario has worsened. Here, MMR has swelled from 141 to 145. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Haryana are also close to the MDG target. Experts attribute the improving trend to increased general awareness among people and schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana.
As reported in: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Preventable-deaths-counter-UPs-improved-MMR/articleshow/9167262.cms