The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is a concept and a critical public health indicator that measures the risk of death associated with pregnancy and childbirth. It is defined as the number of maternal deaths during a given period per 100,000 live births during the same period. A maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of the termination of pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management.
The concept gained global prominence as a key metric for the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 5 and continues to be central to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The MMR is calculated using the formula: (Number of maternal deaths / Number of live births) x 100,000. This mechanism is used to monitor progress toward SDG target 3.1, which aims to reduce the global MMR to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
In India, the data for MMR is primarily collected through the Sample Registration System (SRS), a large-scale continuous survey conducted by the Registrar General of India. The MMR connects directly to national health schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan (PMSMA), which focuses on antenatal care.
The MMR has changed significantly in India recently, demonstrating a steady decline from 130 per 100,000 live births in 2014-2016 to 93 in the 2019-2021 SRS report. The most recent data indicates a further drop to 88 in the 2021-2023 Special Bulletin. While the core definition remains unchanged, this decline shows India is on track to meet the national goal of reducing the ratio, though some states like Assam and Uttar Pradesh still report higher figures.