Introduction: Sustainable Development Goal 3-target 1 aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100 000 live births by 2030. With less than 10 years remaining to achieve this target, there is a need for knowledge regarding the trend in maternal health care for tracking the regions’ progress. This study describes the pattern of maternity and delivery care and the trend of maternal mortality ratio in Kerala and India.

Methodology: Data on maternity and delivery care, as well as maternal mortality ratios were analyzed from five National Family Health Surveys and the Registrar General of India's Sample Registration System bulletins.

Results: There has been an improvement in all the maternity and delivery care indicators. Antenatal care was availed by 58.1% of mothers in India and 78.6% in Kerala. Institutional delivery has increased in India from 25.5% in NFHS-1 to 88.6% in NFHS-5, with Kerala achieving almost 100% institutional deliveries. The proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel in India improved from 34.2% in NFHS-1 to 89.4% in NFHS-5 and from 87.8% to 100% in the state of Kerala. 

Conclusion: Kerala has achieved the SDG goal well before the targeted time and way ahead of the national MMR, thus demonstrating an excellent model to be followed. Stakeholders in the health sector must strive to maintain the achieved progress. India can achieve this only if the underperforming districts are promptly identified and proper interventions are aptly introduced, monitored and evaluated.

Keywords: Maternity care, Delivery care, Maternal health, National Family Health Survey, Maternal mortality ratio.

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Ria Elizabeth Thomas

Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram