Poor access to institutional delivery causes high MMR in India

New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) As the world observes Safe
Motherhood Week, India paints a grim picture of mother care in
view of high rate of maternal mortality and poor access of
women to institutional delivery.

According to the State of World's Children Report
2009 by UNICEF, poor rate of institutional delivery and lack
of availability of skilled attendance is responsible for high
rate of maternal mortality in India.

Only 39 per cent of women go for institutional
delivery in India, while 47 per cent of the women get skilled
attendants during delivery, the report said.

The poor access to institutional delivery and skilled
attendants cause death of about 78,000 women in the country
every year, the report said. They die due to excessive
bleeding during delivery.

At least one in 70 women face risk of life during
delivery.

The findings of the report assumes significance in
view of the Safe Motherhood Week being observed across the
globe from Saturday.

The situation in Bangladesh and Pakistan was worse.
About 39 per cent of women in Pakistan get skilled attendants
while in Bangladesh, the rate of such women is 18 per cent.

The rate of institutional delivery in Pakistan and
Bangladesh is 34 per cent and 15 per cent respectively, the
report said. In Britain, about 99 per cent women get skilled
attendants during delivery.

The report has given importance to providing essential
services for mothers, newborns and children in a timely
fashion at the critical points in the life cycle of mothers
and children.

Essential services, including enhanced nutrition and,
safe water and sanitation facility, should be provided to
women. A supportive environment for maternal and newborn
health is critical, the report said.

Besides the poor healthcare facilities, gender
discrimination has a direct negative impact on maternal health
as it denies girls and women access to education.

Child marriage is a major problem in India. About 40
per cent of world's child marriage take place in India, the
report said. PTI BKM
PMR
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