A study published in the international medical journal The Lancet has reported a sharp decline in maternal deaths during childbirth in India. Compared with 1990, India’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) fell by 77% by 2023, the study said.
The research was carried out by the health metrics division of the University of Washington in the US along with other global health organisations. The findings note that India’s MMR dropped from 508 deaths per 100,000 births in 1990 to 116 per 100,000 births in 2023.
Globally, the study estimated about 240,000 maternal deaths in 2023—equivalent to 190 deaths per 100,000 births—down from 321 per 100,000 births in 1990. However, the target of bringing MMR below 70 per 100,000 births has not yet been achieved by 104 of the 204 countries assessed.
The study identified postpartum haemorrhage and complications linked to high blood pressure as major causes of maternal deaths worldwide. It said strengthening antenatal check-ups, emergency care and postnatal monitoring could further reduce maternal deaths.
Officials from India’s Union Health Ministry said national data for 2021–23 show the MMR has declined further to 88 per 100,000 births, and reiterated the goal of bringing it within the UN-set target of 70 by 2030.
