Declining Fertility Levels and Rising Maternal Mortality Ratio in Kerala

Sub : Geo

Sec: Human Geo

Why in News

Kerala, known for its remarkable healthcare indicators, is witnessing a concerning trend: a rising Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR). Despite maintaining the lowest MMR in India, recent reports indicate a steady climb, raising alarm among health authorities. The issue stems not from increased maternal deaths but declining childbirths, reflecting broader demographic challenges.

Current Trends:

MMR in Kerala: Officially recorded at 19 per one lakh live births (2018–20, Sample Registration System).
Actual estimates by the State Health Department place it higher at 29 per one lakh live births.
The spike is attributed to fewer childbirths rather than a rise in maternal deaths.
Current Birth Figures: Live births have dropped to 3.93 lakh annually from an earlier average of 5–5.5 lakh.
The Vital Statistics Report (VSR), is anticipated to show further decline.
Historical Decline: Kerala’s live births went below five lakh annually for the first time in 2016.
Replacement-Level Fertility: Kerala achieved replacement-level fertility (TFR: 2.1) in 1987–88. The TFR dropped to 1.5 in 2020 and is now nearing 1.35, based on current trends.

About Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR):

MMR is the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births during a given time period.
According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) data for 2018-20, India’s MMR is 97 per 100,000 live births, a decline from 130 in 2014-16.
The UN MMEIG 2020 report indicates a decline from 384 in 2000 to 103 in 2020.

About Total Fertility Rate (TFR):

TFR represents the average number of children a woman would have over her reproductive lifetime.
As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), India’s TFR has declined to 2.0, below the replacement level of 2.1.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and MMR Targets:

SDG Target 3.1: Aims to reduce the global MMR to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
India’s Progress: With an MMR of 97 per 100,000 live births, India is progressing towards the SDG target.
The average annual rate of reduction in India’s MMR from 2000 to 2020 was 6.36%, higher than the global decline of 2.07%.