BHUBANESWAR: The Safe Motherhood Day observed throughout the country on Tuesday had little meaning for Odisha as pregnant women here still struggle to reach hospitals for delivery. Majority of maternal deaths in the State are due to haemorrhage, infection, unsafe abortion and eclampsia (very high blood pressure leading to seizures) or from health complications that worsen during pregnancy.
More than 1,000 pregnant women die every year in the State which has recorded Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) of 222 per one lakh births, the fourth highest in the country.
Though the Government claims that several measures have been taken to reduce the MMR, pregnant women in remote areas of the State continue to suffer in absence of medical services.
According to National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-IV, only 23.1 per cent of mothers in the State had full antenatal care and 36.5 per cent consumed iron folic acid for 100 days or more when they were pregnant. Despite several follow-up actions, nearly 64 per cent of women had antenatal check up in the first trimester.
The annual estimate of pregnant women in the State in 2015-16 was 9,30,600 and deliveries was 8,46,000, including 67,172 home deliveries. In 2014-15, the number of pregnant women was 9,32,000 and deliveries 8,47,300, including 81,042 home deliveries. While nearly 80.7 per cent was reported deliveries in 2015-16, it was 83.6 per cent the previous year.
Health experts opined that maternal mortality could be reduced by a third through healthy timing and spacing of births. This means delaying first pregnancy until a woman is at least 20 years and waiting two to three years after childbirth before trying for another baby. It is also essential for women to adopt birth control measures.
Director (Health Services) Dr KC Dash said apart from strengthening health infrastructure, several new methods have been adopted to reduce MMR.
‘’While inaccessible remote villages have been provided with stretchers to carry pregnant women to nearby places which can be reached by ambulances, the districts have been asked to reimburse the amount if any family transports pregnant woman to the hospital on their own,’’ Dr Dash said.
Meanwhile, the State Government has earmarked `45 crore under SAMPURNA scheme that will focus on 15 high burden districts for accelerated reduction of MMR and infant mortality rate.