TL;DR
One of the important Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to reduce maternal mortality. India has made progress, but still falls short of this target. Despite the progress, the union government’s data from 2008 to 2022 shows a rise in deaths related to pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Context
SDG 3.1 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, specifically targeting a global reduction in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) to less than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. Despite improvement, India’s MMR during 2019-21 stood at 93 deaths per lakh live births.
Who releases the data?
The Medical Certification of Cause of Deaths (MCCD) reports, published by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The report provides medically certified causes for deaths in the country.
Where can I download Clean & Structured Data?
Access comprehensive data on Registered and Medically certified data on Dataful
Key Insights
MCCD data for the 14-year period 2008 to 2022 reveals that:
- The number of medically certified deaths caused by Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Puerperium has increased by around 35% during this period.
- In terms of the number of deaths, COVID-19 affected years 2020 and 2021 stood in the second and first places, respectively, during the 2008-2022 period, while the pre- and post-COVID-19 years of 2019 and 2022 stood in the fifth and eighth positions, respectively.
- In terms of deaths by age groups during the 2008-2022 period, 2021 and 2020 stood in the first and second positions in the age group of 35 to 44 years, respectively, while they stood in the second and fourth positions in the age group of 25 to 34 years.
Why does it matter?
Reducing maternal mortality during pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium is vital for safeguarding human life and ensuring healthy families and communities. Protecting maternal health reduces long-term disabilities, improves newborn survival, and promotes intergenerational well-being.
Key Numbers (from 2008 to 2022)
- Medically certified Pregnancy, Childbirth and Puerperium related Deaths:
3,751 → 5,095
- Medically certified Pregnancy, Childbirth and Puerperium related Deaths by age groups:
15 to 24 years: 1,262 → 1,428
25 to 34 years: 1,547 → 1,891
35 to 55 years: 633 → 1,024
45 to 54 years: 208 → 691
