Assamhas recorded a marginal improvement inMaternal Mortality Ratio(MMR) but continues to be the worst performer in the country.
According to the Registrar General of Indias (RGI) latest ‘Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality for the period 2018 to 2020 released on Tuesday, the state has recorded 195 deaths per lakh live births, which is an improvement from the previous figure of 215 in the period 2016 to 2018.
Kerala has the lowest MMR of 19 per lakh live births. The country’s Average MMR declined from 113 in 2016-18 to 97 in 2018-20, according to the special bulletin.
According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21) published earlier this year, 25% of Women aged 18-29 marry before reaching the legal minimum age of marriage, while the Percentage of women marrying before the legal minimum age is 32% in Assam. The prevalence of anaemia among women is 60% or more in eight Indian states and Assam, along with Tripura, comes under this category.
Though institutional delivery, referring to delivery of children in a health facility, is being promoted to reduce maternal mortality, the northeastern states, including Assam, stood below the national average of 86%. Assam had 84% births in health facilities, against almost 100% births in , Goa, Kerala, Lakshadweep andTamil Nadu.