VISAKHAPATNAM: For every one lakh live births per annum, as many as 60 to 80 maternal deaths are reported from Viakhapatnam district.
To arrest the maternal mortality rate (MMR), health officials said the government would launch an injectable contraceptive for women at the government hospitals. As part of the government project named Antara, the drive will be launched by month-end.
With about 72,900 deliveries recorded in 2016-17, there are 72 maternal deaths till January which is the highest when compared to 79 in 2015-16. Majority of the women, assuming that they are not pregnant as they are still breastfeeding their child, do not take temporary birth control measures.
While many doctors suggest that there should be at least a three-four-year gap between two pregnancies, which will keep the mother and child healthy, many women fail to take measures after the first child birth. There is Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD), a device introduced to prevent pregnancy in 2012, now with this injectable contraceptives after 45 days of the first issue, women can take injections every three months.
“The main purpose is to delay second issue and control unwanted pregnancies. This will also help to control mother and child deaths. To get trained in this, a medical officer has also been to Bangalore for an orientation programme,” said DMHO J Sarojini.
“Though we have introduced the IUCD earlier, there has been no control of unwanted pregnancies and mother and infant deaths.
Through the orientation programme, we were trained on the benefits and usage of contraceptives. The women who are willing to take the IUCD can use this, which has no side effects. When it comes to the IUCD, it is one time effort which can control pregnancy for about five years,” said K Srinivas, medical officer at Vadcheepurapalli.
As a part of the programme, this will be introduced in medical college hospitals, later at district area hospitals, CHCs and PHCs.
Officials say this would be helpful for women who do not use contraceptives to delay the second pregnancy and approach the hospital only when they get pregnant. Once the women take the injections, they will be kept under observation and awareness will also be created.