Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh continues to report high maternal and infant mortality rates, placing it among the states with the most critical public health outcomes in the country, according to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) 2022 report released by the Registrar General of India.
The state recorded 159 maternal deaths per one lakh live births and 40 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. These figures are significantly above the national averages, where the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) stands at 26 per 1,000 live births.
The report, which includes data on birth rate, death rate, natural growth rate, and infant mortality for all states and union territories, reveals that Madhya Pradesh has made some progress over the years but still lags behind. In 2013, Madhya Pradesh had an IMR of 53, which declined to 40 in 2022, a 25 per cent drop. However, this improvement is slower than the national trend, which saw a 35 per cent decline during the same period, from 40 to 26.
Disparities persist between urban and rural areas in the state. The Infant Mortality Rate in rural Madhya Pradesh is 43, compared to 28 in urban areas. There is also a gender gap: rural female infants have a mortality rate of 44, while male infants have a slightly lower rate of 42.
Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, speaking at a recent event in Bhopal, acknowledged the modest gains but stressed the urgency of the situation. “We still have a long way to go,” he said, urging health officials and medical professionals to intensify their efforts and treat the issue with utmost seriousness.
The report highlights that nearly 60 per cent of maternal deaths in Madhya Pradesh occur in government medical colleges, all located in urban centres. An additional 20 per cent of deaths take place in district hospitals. This indicates that even facilities in urban areas with more resources are facing systemic inefficiencies and challenges in delivering effective maternal healthcare.
The state’s slower reduction in neonatal and under-five mortality further underlines the need for improved institutional delivery systems, better healthcare infrastructure, and enhanced community outreach programs.
Madhya Pradesh's continued struggle with high maternal and infant mortality rates signals a critical need for focused public health interventions and more efficient healthcare delivery, especially in rural and underserved regions.