Drop in Institutional Deliveries

• 29 May 2020

Why in News

Recently, the data from the states of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand has reported a drop in the institutional deliveries.

Key Points

• Current Scenario in Two States:
  
  • Chattisgarh: It has recorded a drop by 15.39 % in April compared to the numbers recorded in March.
    
    • In February 2020, before the lockdown was imposed, the State had recorded 37,984 institutional deliveries . But following the lockdown, the number of institutional deliveries fell to 32,529.
    • The State has recorded an increase in the percentage of institutional deliveries from 44.9 to 70.2 between NFHS 3 (2005-06) and NFHS 4 (2015-16).
  • Jharkhand: The state had listed 52,000 women for scheduled deliveries in May, out of these only 5.9 % of these were conducted in medical institutions by May 21.
    
    • The State has recorded an increase in the percentage of institutional deliveries from 40.1 % to 61.9 % between NFHS 3 (2005-06) and NFHS 4 (2015-16).
• Reasons for Drop in Institutional Deliveries:
  
  • The public transport has been majorly affected due to nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus reaching hospitals from villages became difficult.
  • The declared Covid-19 hospitals have created a fear of infection and thus people are avoiding physical contacts with the hospitals.
  • Many deliveries are being carried out at small private nursing homes to avoid movement and related Covid-19 spread.
  • The entire health machinery is battling Covid-19, so non-Covid health services experience a lack of medical staff.

Institutional Deliveries in India

• Description:
  
  • Institutional delivery means giving birth to a child in a medical institution under the overall supervision of trained and competent health personnel.
  • It also signifies an availability of amenities to handle the situation and save the life of the mother and child.
• National Scenario:
  
  • Over the past two decades, India has made progress in increasing the number of institutional deliveries.
    
    • According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), institutional deliveries have increased from 39% in 2005-06 to 79% in 2015-16.
    • Further, the institutional births in public institutions have increased from 18% to 52% in the same time period.
• Step Taken to Increase Institutional Deliveries:
  
  • Janani Suraksha Yojana : Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme which is being implemented with the objective of reducing maternal and infant mortality by promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women.
  • Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA): It has been launched to focus on conducting special AnteNatal Check-ups (ANC) check up on 9th of every month with the help of Medical officers to detect and treat cases of anaemia.
  • Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) : It is a maternity benefit programme being implemented in all districts of the country with effect from 1st January, 2017.
  • LaQshya Programme : LaQshya (Labour room Quality Improvement Initiative) intended to improve the quality of care in the labour room and maternity operation theatres in public health facilities.

Way Forward

• The entire health machinery is battling Covid-19 but non-Covid health services should not compromise which are the base of the health infrastructure of the country.
• The government should ensure adequate availability of medical staff, emergency medical services such as ambulance, vaccinations, maternity care,etc. to the urban as well as rural areas.
• The balance of the Covid and non-Covid medical services is need of the hour and the government needs to ensure the implementation of the same in the future.

Source:IE