In May, a United Nations report showed that India was among the 10 countries that together accounted for 60% of global maternal deaths, stillbirths and newborn deaths. India accounted for over 17% of such deaths in 2020, followed by Nigeria (12%) and Pakistan (10%). The report also showed that India had the second-highest number of maternal deaths (24,000) after Nigeria.
The report reiterated the three major interventions that help reduce maternal deaths: going for four antenatal care visits or ANC visits (during pregnancy), having a skilled attendant at birth, and receiving postnatal care (after childbirth) within the first two days after birth (PNC). During antenatal care, health workers educate women about complications during pregnancy and labour, and after childbirth. The visits also help women get access to micronutrient supplementation (iron and folic acid supplements) to prevent anaemia, which can lead to maternal and perinatal mortality. It also helps them seek treatment for hypertension to prevent eclampsia, and to get immunisation against tetanus and other endemic diseases.
Table 1 | The table shows the frequency of antenatal care (ANC) visits in India and the socio-economic background of pregnant women who completed all four ANC visits
