Umbilical Discord

An estimated 8,000 babies are born with neural defects every year in Rajasthan. Most of them die within a few months of birth. They are lucky. …

Beyond The Billion

If post-Independence leaders of India had ensured full literacy, a solution would have been in sight for a lot of problems. Population, for one. …

Kind to cash

The government has a plan to reach welfare to the poor without wasting money. It wants to put hard cash in their hands instead of spending on …

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 

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 …

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 

India improves maternal mortality ratio, but poorer states yet to make progress

This is a considerable improvement from the 130 deaths per lakh in 2014-2016

World’s first Health Impact Bond can save 10,000 women and newborns in India

Utkrisht Impact Bond will ensure financial assistance to 440 small healthcare organisations to improve the quality of maternal and child care in …

Somali drought heightens risk to mothers during pregnancy and childbirth

About 607,000 pregnant women across Somalia need maternal health services to ensure a safe pregnancy and delivery

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 …

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 

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

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  

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

A monthly defence

A recent hypothesis contends that menstruation protects women against various uterine infections.

Big moms' babies suffer

There is striking new evidence that the lollier-pollier the expectant mom, the more the chance of the kid being born with severe abnormalities

Welcome home, stranger!

Certain sensors in the mother's immune system are desensitised to make it possible for her body to accept the 'alien' within: her child

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

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

Africa fighting maternal, neonatal mortality with community-level interventions, technology

Sub-Saharan Africa is leveraging emerging technologies to improve access to basic provisions to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality

Zika impact: Demand for abortion up 100% in Brazil

Pregnant women from Zika-affected countries are defying national laws which restrict abortion to request abortion medications online, a new …

Having a baby is hard in Ethiopia: women walk a lot, and wait a lot

It's impossible to think about maternal health in Ethiopia without thinking about the time and distance between where rural women live and where …

Children and passive smoking

A pregnant woman exposed to cigarette smoke can pass on the harmful smoke constituents to the foetus

Pregnancy calcified

New research findings show that adequate intake of calcium is a remedy for anxiety and high blood pressure-related conditions in many expecting women

Fertility cold-stored

Women who might lose their ability to conceive - be it due to the inevitable menopause or a damage to their ovaries caused by radiation or …

Conception misconception

Scientists in the US have taken significant strides in solving the mysteries surrounding human birth. Their achievements answer questions …