Rising graph of maternity death, mostly expectant mothers from minority community, has become a major concern for the tribal district. Even the Government sponsored health service network failed to achieve the objectives. With mortality rate at nearly 452 per lakh, the district was placed second in the list of MMR and IMR in the country.
While bleeding during deliveries, septic abortions and high blood pressure constitute the clinical causes for maternal deaths, lack of proper transport facilities and meager 50 per cent institutional deliveries cause more hazards for mother and child health (MCH) care in the district.
While social ostracisation, poor access to health facilities and ill-equipped hospitals are the major contributors to unsafe motherhood, the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) fails to provide accessible, affordable, accountable, effective and reliable health care in the district, said sources.
As per a survey, the district tops on Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in the State. Though the district administration claims introduction of several schemes under NRHM for safe motherhood and child care but for want of minimum facilities women keep dying during deliveries. Even the life of the newborn is not safe. The main reason is 100 per cent of the health centers don’t have an anesthetist, 99 per cent run without gynecologist and at least 95 per cent have no doctor. These lacunae need to be eradicated on a war footing to meet the needs of increasing number of pregnant women.
The situation is worse in the rural areas as administration failed to provide any visible relief. The large-scale deaths occur owing to under-nutrition and other diseases.
While poverty has been cited as the main reason for the undernourished status of pregnant women in the district, lack of awareness on the dietary needs and neglect of nutritional aspects is also big contributor to the problem. Better antenatal care with provision for quality labour rooms, blood transfusion facility and qualified gynecologists should be provided.
Field level health workers must be trained properly in maternity care and management of delivery process. Also, steps should be taken to control malnutrition, register pregnancy cases and check unregulated fertility.