INSTITUTIONAL DELIVERIES INCREASE OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES: NSO SURVEY

INSTITUTIONAL DELIVERIES INCREASE OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES: NSO SURVEY 

• • As per survey on the state of India's health conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO): 
• Over the past two decades, the proportion of women delivering a child in a hospital (or health care institution) increased by nearly 73% in rural India and 37% points in urban India. 
• At least 9 of every 10 women now deliver a child in a hospital availing better health care facilities. 
• 28.1% of women who deliver in the hospital undergoes a cesarean section or C-section surgery, leading to an increase in overall cost for childbirth. (ideal rate is 10 to 1 5%, as per WHO). 
• Personal preferences, older mothers and the role of private sector hospitals are reasons for the high rate of C-sections 
• Institutional deliveries can significantly reduce the risk of maternal and neonatal deaths attributable to prematurity etc. 
• E.g. Infant Mortality Rate (the number of deaths under one year of age for 1000 live births in a year) declined to 32 in 2018 from 129 in 1971. 
• Schemes to promote institutional deliveries: Janani Suraksha Yojana (under National Health Mission), Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, etc. 
  

Source: Hindustan Times