59 per cent babies are delivered at home

Bhopal, Aug 29: Despite efforts by various state governments to promote institutional deliveries in order to reduce MMR, 59 per cent women in the country deliver babies at home.

According to a survey by District Level Health Service-Reproduction and Child Health, Nagaland stood first with 81.80 per cent babies delivered at home followed by Chhattisgarh at 79.6 per cent deliveries.

Percentage of deliveries at home in Jharkhand stood at 77.3 per cent, while it was 71.9 per cent in Assam and 68.9 per cent in Meghalaya.

The national capital was not far behind in the list with 49.3 babies being delivered at home.

However, the percentage in Kerala was two per cent, while it was 2.3 per cent in Pondicherry, 8.6 per cent in Goa, 13.4 per cent in Tamil Nadu and 19.8 per cent in Lakshadweep.

The survey, carried out between 2002-04 in 593 districts, found that 40.5 institutional deliveries -- 18.7 per cent government and 21.8 per cent private institutional deliveries -- took place.

Percentage of deliveries at home in Madhya Pradesh -- where MMR is 498 per one lakh births -- stood at 71.5 per cent, while it was 77.2 per cent in Uttaranchal, 76.8 per cent in Bihar, 76.2 per cent in Uttar Pradesh, 68 per cent in Rajasthan and 64.4 per cent in Orissa.

Percentage of government institutional deliveries in Madhya Pradesh -- where 20 lakh deliveries are reported every year -- was 17.6 per cent, while it was mere 5.8 per cent in Bihar, 8.5 per cent in Uttar Pradesh, 10.7 per cent in Uttaranchal and 19.4 per cent in Rajasthan.

In Madhya Pradesh, 10.6 per cent private institutional deliveries took place. However, the percentage in Bihar was 17.6 per cent, 9.7 per cent in Orissa, 13 per cent in Uttaranchal, 12 per cent in Rajasthan and 13.9 per cent in Uttar Pradesh. The percentage was highest in Kerala with 57.3 per cent.

Citing the report, United Nations Population Fund (Madhya Pradesh) coordinator said even if seven per cent of the deliveries takeing place in the presence of a doctor or nurse at home were regarded safe, the total institutional deliveries touched 47.6 per cent.

He said about 15 per cent delivery cases faced complexities and MMR was affected in absence of proper treatment. Therefore, steps for expanding and improving emergency delivery services must be taken.

UNI