Pregnancy and Childbirth

in India
Paridhi Jha,
PhD Student
Department of Womens and
Childrens Health, Uppsala University
 Class overview
Learning about India

Pregnancy and child birth- factors influencing

maternal and newborn health: Socio-cultural,
economic, physiological
Statistics related to maternal and newborn health

Government policies to improve maternal and

newborn health
Impact of policies on maternity care seeking trends
in India
 About India
India is the seventh largest country in
the world geographically (3,287,240 sq.
km)
It is the second most populated country
in the world (1.2 Billion population)
The Country is divided into 33 states
and 7 Union Territories
 States of India Vs. Countries of World

State in Populatio Country Populatio

India n n
Uttar Pradesh 199.6 Brazil 195.4

Maharashtra 112.4 Japan 127.0

Bihar 103.8 Mexico 110.5

West Bengal 91.3 Philippines 93.6

Andhra Pradesh 87.4 Germany 81.4

Madhya 72.6 Turkey 72.7

Pradesh
Tamil Nadu 72.1 Thailand 68.1

Rajasthan 68.6 France 62.8

Karnataka 61.1 United Kingdom 61.9

Factors Influencing Womens Health
Socio- economical:
Poverty, gender inequity, illiteracy, lack of
awareness about diet, self perception, heavy
work-load, accessibility to health care, socially
and economically dependent on family.
Cultural:
Family norms, son preference, lack of control
on own fertility, early wedding, religious
practices: Fasting, avoiding certain food items
Physiological:
Anaemia, menorrhagea resulting from
anaemia, early exhaution,
 National Statistics :Pregnancy and
Childbirth
S. Indicator Statistic Source
N s
o.
1 Age at marriage (in Years) 20 National Family
Health Survey 2009

2 Knowledge about at least one 98 National Family

method of contraception Health Survey 2009
3 Percentage of women 95.6 National Family
undergoing permanent family Health Survey 2009
planning
4 Antenatal coverage by a 70 National Family
trained health care provider Health Survey 2009
during pregnancy (%)
5 Crude Birth Rate 22.5 National Family
Health Survey 2009
6 Total Fertility Rate 2.6 National Family
Health Survey 2009
 National Statistics :Pregnancy and
Childbirth
S. Indicator Statistic Source
N s
o.
7 Maternal Mortality Ratio 212 Sample Registrar
Survey 2010

8 Couple Protection rate (%) 40.4 Census 2011

9 Institutional child births (%) 80% Census 2011

10 Postnatal follow up No clear -

data
Health care delivery system
in India
A complex three tier health care
delivery system was introduced in the
Country in 1980s to ensure best
possible coverage of population in
spite of geographical and socio-
cultural challenges
 Health schemes by the Government
for supporting women during
pregnancy and child birth
National Safe Motherhood Programme
(1990s)
Reproductive and Child Health
programme (2000)
Reproductive and Child Health
programme 2: National Rural Health
Mission (2005)
Janani Suraksha Yojana (Saving Mothers
Scheme)
108 ambulance services
 Changing Scenario
Increasing awareness regarding pregnancy and
childbirth services and womens entitlement.
Exponential increase in numbers of child birth in
Institutions.
Increased public- private partnerships.

Increased cesarean sections across the Country.

Labour rooms and maternity wards not equipped

to meet rising demand of institutional child
births.