Recent data released by the registrar general of India showed that maternal mortality rate (MMR) has dropped in the country, including in Bihar, when compared to the previous years. However,Biharlagged behind the national Average of 97 with anMMRof 118.
According to the World Health Organisation, maternal death is the death of a woman during pregnancy or within 42 days of the termination of pregnancy, from cause related to pregnancy or its management, and not accidental or incidental causes.
MMR is the number of maternal deaths during a given time period per one lakh live births during the same time period.
As per the special bulletin of sample registration system released by the registrar general of India on Tuesday for 2018-20, Indias MMR was 97. Kerala was the best with an MMR of 19, followed byMaharashtra(33), (43), Andhra Pradesh (45) and Tamil Nadu (54). Among the states witnessing maximum deaths of Women per one lakh live birth was Assam which had the highest MMR of 195, followed by Madhya Pradesh (173), Uttar Pradesh (167), Chhattisgarh (137) and Odisha (119). Bihar was placed at sixth among the 19 states and union territories with an MMR of 118.
In 2014-16, the average MMR of the country was 130.
This shows there has been reduction of nearly 25% in the deaths on an average. Data for Bihar for 2014-16 showed that MMR was 165 and it came down to 118 for 2018-20.
The drop has been nearly 28%, slightly more than the national average.