Simply Put: Maternal mortality in India

India recorded 24,000 maternal deaths in 2020, second only to Nigeria, UN report shows

Globally, there were 287,000 maternal deaths in 2020, only a marginal improvement from 309,000 in 2016 when the Sustainable Development Goals …

Maternal mortality in India: What do the recent figures tell us

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan have seen the biggest drop in maternal mortality 

The role of bias in how women are treated during childbirth: a Kenyan case study

Around 810 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth

Health in news on June 7

Here's a round-up of today's news and debate on health

Burden of child brides: Bihar, Rajasthan lead states in marrying off girls early  

Southern states such as Tamil Nadu and Telangana are not doing any better, finds National Health Profile 2018

Health in news on May 14

A round-up of what's new in health

Infographic: Maternal mortality in India

India has improved its maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to 97 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018-2020 from 103 in 2017-2019. Still, in 11 …

As told to Parliament (December 9, 2022): 25% Indians are multi-dimensionally poor, says minister

Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index captures multiple and simultaneous deprivations faced by households across the three macro dimensions of health, …

Centre defers decision to restrict production of yield-boosting hormone for two months

Decision comes after various states said oxytocin is very important to prevent human maternal mortality

800 women still die in childbirth every day globally: Unicef report

The lowest coverage levels tend to be in the poorest countries where maternal mortality levels are highest, it says

Care of the pregnant: Half-hearted attitude

The first 1,000 days of life offer the window of opportunity to reduce maternal and child mortality. It’s time India made the most of it 

Zambia government renews commitment to end obstetric fistula by 2030 

New strategic plan to manage the condition till 2026 launched

UN: Progress in tackling maternal as well as newborn deaths stagnant since 2015

India tops the list of 10 countries which bear 60% of global maternal deaths, stillbirths & newborn deaths burden

Customary and religious laws are impeding progress towards women’s health in Nigeria

The country has the second-largest HIV epidemic in the world; its women make up more than half of people living with the disease  

This mobile application saves expectant mothers in India

Designed by a Chennai-based gynaecologist, the technology gives medical details of pregnant women to doctors to enable timely treatment 

How Nuh’s maternal mortality rate dropped 32 points in just 4 years

Incentivising institutional deliveries don’t necessarily ensure a pregnant woman’s nutritional health 

COVID-19 disruptions caused 1.4 million unintended pregnancies: Study

An estimated 12 million women faced this disruption to family planning services for a duration of 3.6 months on an average  

Over 20 million deaths, 300 million life years lost due to COVID-19, estimates WHO

Health progress for various indicators slowed down since 2015; burden of non-communicable diseases increased since 2000

Over 15 years of incentivised institutional delivery: Has it ensured safe births?

The nine focus states continue to have the highest MMR

Africa's non-communicable disease burden likely to worsen without political will

Africa has the resources and support to tackle non-communicable diseases; all it requires is political will to seize the opportunity

Particularly vulnerable tribes: How a focus on nutrition tipped the health scale for children in remote Odisha

Better funding, community training & cultural context can improve outcomes further, say experts

As told to Parliament (March 21, 2023): Maternal mortality went down to 97 per 100,000 live births in 2018-20

All that was discussed in the House through the day  

Rahima Moosa: South Africa’s only mother and child hospital is falling apart — a veteran doctor reflects on why

The country’s health ombudsman recently published a shocking investigation into Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital 

Poor understanding of maternal, infant mortality rates & misuse of law behind Assam child marriage crackdown

State’s poor health performance lies in larger developmental issues; Prohibition of Child Marriage and POCSO Acts being misinterpretated