Home / Health / Maternal Deaths Decline, Post-Birth Care Gaps Remain
Maternal Deaths Decline, Post-Birth Care Gaps Remain
17 Apr
Summary
- Maternal deaths decreased to 45 in 2025-26, a notable reduction.
- Majority of recent deaths occurred post-childbirth, highlighting care gaps.
- Medical causes and systemic issues like referral delays persist.
Data indicates a positive trend in reducing maternal deaths, with figures dropping from 79 in 2023-24 to 45 in 2025-26. The maternal mortality rate has also seen a substantial decrease over this period.
Despite this progress, audits reveal that a majority of maternal deaths now occur in the postnatal phase, suggesting insufficient monitoring and care after delivery. These deaths predominantly happen in institutional settings, affecting women aged 20-30.
Key contributing factors remain medical complications such as pregnancy-induced hypertension and infections, alongside systemic failures like delayed identification of high-risk pregnancies and referral delays. Shortages in essential resources like blood and specialists further exacerbate the problem.
In response, authorities are implementing a strategy focusing on early pregnancy registration, tracking high-risk cases, strengthening referral units, expanding blood storage, and enhancing healthcare worker training. Efforts are also directed at addressing non-preventable causes and improving care continuity.
Health activists emphasize that while the decline is encouraging, many deaths are preventable. They stress the importance of timely identification of high-risk pregnancies, swift referrals, and ensuring quality care both before and after childbirth to further improve outcomes.
