STUDY INVESTIGATES HEART DISEASE’S ROLE IN MATERNAL MORTALITY.

Why in the news?

Maternal deaths linked to undiagnosed heart conditions highlight the need for early screening and improved healthcare access in India.

About Uncovering the Link Between Heart Diseases and Maternal Deaths:

  • 23-year-old Dhaanu’s death during childbirth in a Tamil Nadu village revealed an undiagnosed congenital heart defect.
  • Lack of early screening for Dhaanu meant her preventable death went unnoticed.
  • MMR serves as a vital indicator of public health readiness.
  • India’s MMR decreased by 70% over two decades, reaching 97 deaths per lakh live births between 2018 and 2020.
  • Despite improvements, achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 70 by 2030 remains crucial.
source:medium
What is Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR)?

  • Measures maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
  • Includes deaths from pregnancy or pregnancy termination.
  • Represents the risk associated with pregnancy for women.

Related Government Initiatives:

  • Janani Suraksha Yojana: Provides cash assistance for institutional deliveries under the National Health Mission.
  • Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan: Offers free antenatal care on the 9th of each month.
  • Other initiatives: Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Poshan Abhiyan, and LaQshya Guidelines focus on maternal and child health.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/health-wellness/heart-disease-linked-to-maternal-deaths-a-new-icmr-study-attempts-to-join-the-dots-9276401/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CCongenital%20heart%20diseases%20(problems%20of,maternal%20deaths%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20added.&text=The%20data%20also%20showed%20that,first%20time%20during%20their%20pregnancy