Data:

• The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India has declined to 113 in 2016-18 from 122 in 2015-17 and 130 in 2014-2016.
• The target 3.1 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set by the United Nations aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 1,00,000 live births.
• The southern States registered a lower MMR — Andhra Pradesh (65), Telangana (63), Karnataka (92), Kerala (43) and Tamil Nadu (60).

About Maternal Mortality rate:

• The death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy.

• Maternal Mortality Ratio(MMR) defined as the number of maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births.

Causes behind Maternal Mortality rate:

Medical causes

• Obstetrics causes - Toxaemias of pregnancy - Haemorrhage - Infection - Obstructed labour - Unsafe abortion

Non-obstetric causes

• Non obstetric causes - Anaemia - Associated diseases e.g., cardiac, renal, hepatic metabolic and infectious Malignancy Accidents

Social Causes:

• Age at child birth
• Too close pregnancies
• High Family size
• Prevalence of Malnutrition
• High Poverty rate
• Illiteracy
• Ignorance among family and Women
• Prejudices
• Lack of maternity services 
• Shortage of health manpower
• Delivery by untrained dais
• Poor environmental sanitation
• Poor communications and transport facilities

Reference: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/india-registers-a-steep-decline-in-maternal-mortality-ratio/article32106662.ece#:~:text=The%20Maternal%20Mortality%20Ratio%20(MMR,Sample%20Registration%20System%20(SRS).

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