Why in news?

• The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India has declined to 113 in 2016-18 from 122 in 2015-17 and 130 in 2014-2016, according to Office of the Registrar General’s Sample Registration System (SRS).

What is MMR?

• The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is defined as the number of maternal deaths during a given time period per 100,000 live births during the same time period.
• It depicts the risk of maternal death relative to the number of live births and essentially captures the risk of death in a single pregnancy or a single live birth.

What is India’s status?

• With this persistent decline, India is on track to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target for reducing MMR to 70 by 2025, five years ahead of timeline of 2030.
• Highest MMR is in Assam (215), Uttar Pradesh (197) ), Madhya Pradesh  (173) and Rajasthan (164).
• The southern States registered a lower MMR — Andhra Pradesh (65), Telangana (63), Karnataka (92), Kerala (43) and Tamil Nadu (60).
• India is on track to achieve SDG target of MMR, however the four states namely Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will have to intensify their efforts to accelerate the MMR decline to achieve the SDG target.

Prelims Question

Consider the following statements regarding “Maternal mortality rate” (MMR):

1.It is defined as the number of maternal deaths during a given time period per 100,000 live births during the same time period.

2.Only Kerala and Mizoram has achieved the National health policy target of 100 in MMR.

Which among the above statements is/are correct?

(a)1 only

(b)2 only

(c)Both 1 and 2

(d)Neither 1 nor 2
 

Answer to Prelims question