The Maternal & Infant Health Crisis in India
- According to national data, India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) was approximately 97 deaths per 100,000 live births for the period 2018-20. Information Bureau+2
- Despite this drop from higher levels, regional disparities remain stark, and many rural areas still face MMR much higher than the national average.
- In infant and child health: the Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) fell from ~45 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to ~31 in 2021.
- India remains among the top few countries globally contributing to maternal deaths, though progress has been faster than global average.
- Many deaths are preventable: causes such as haemorrhage, infection/sepsis, hypertensive disorders, obstructed labour remain dominant.