-The Hindu
Bengaluru: Although the 2013 District-Level Household and Facility Survey (DLHS-4) reveals that the maternal mortality rate in Karnataka has dropped from 178 in 2008 to 133 in 2013, Karnataka is still way behind its southern peers on maternal health.
For every 1,00,000 childbirths in Karnataka, 133 mothers die, ranking the State fourth in south India and seventh in India. While Kerala tops the list, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have been ranked as second and third respectively in south India.
State Deputy Director (Maternal Health) Ramachandra B. told The Hindu that the six districts of Hyderabad Karnataka region — Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari and Bidar — are the districts that fare badly in MMR (maternal mortality rate). Districts in the coastal and Malnad region, where the socio-economic status is good, are the best performers. In Bengaluru Urban district, for every 1,00,000 childbirths, 60 mothers die, he said.
“The high mortality rate in the Hyderabad Karnataka region is largely owing to the shortage of specialists and doctors there,” he said.