By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: Assam has achieved a major public health milestone, with its Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) declining sharply from 480 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2004-06 to 84 in the latest estimates.
According to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) data for 2021-23, Assam’s MMR now stands below the national average of 88 for the first time, marking a historic improvement for a state that once had the worst maternal mortality rate in the country.
The latest Sample Registration System (SRS) estimates for 2021-23 place Assam’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) at 110 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, higher than the national average of 88, indicating that maternal health concerns in the state remain more acute than the overall national situation.
Despite this, Assam has performed better than several states that have historically reported high maternal mortality rates, including Odisha (153), Chhattisgarh (146), Madhya Pradesh (142) and Uttar Pradesh (141). The state’s MMR is slightly above Bihar and West Bengal, both at 104, while Rajasthan has improved to 86, moving below Assam and the national average.
Southern states continue to lead the country in maternal healthcare outcomes. Kerala and Andhra Pradesh have each recorded an MMR of 30, followed by Tamil Nadu at 35, Telangana at 59 and Karnataka at 68. Collectively, the southern region has maintained an average MMR of 42, significantly lower than Assam’s figure.
Over the past two decades, Assam has witnessed a dramatic decline in maternal mortality. The state’s MMR has dropped by over 82 per cent from 480 in 2004-06 and by nearly 79 per cent from 390 in 2007-09.
In the mid-2000s, Assam had the highest maternal mortality burden among major Indian states. During 2004-06, its MMR of 480 was far higher than Uttar Pradesh/Uttarakhand (440), Rajasthan (388), Madhya Pradesh/Chhattisgarh (335), Bihar/Jharkhand (312) and Odisha (303).
At the same time, several southern and western states had already achieved considerably better maternal health indicators. Kerala reported an MMR of 95, Tamil Nadu 111, Maharashtra 130, West Bengal 141, Andhra Pradesh 154 and Gujarat 160.
The data reflects substantial nationwide progress in reducing maternal deaths, but Assam’s turnaround is particularly notable because of the steep decline from an exceptionally high starting point.
Across India, the Maternal Mortality Ratio fell from 254 in 2004-06 to 212 in 2007-09 before reaching 88 in the latest estimates.
Infant mortality indicators have also improved in Assam over the years. The state’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), which measures deaths of infants below one year per 1,000 live births, declined from 61 in 2009 to 29 in 2024. However, this remains above the national average IMR of 24.
Within the Northeast, Assam continues to trail several neighbouring states in infant mortality outcomes. Meghalaya recorded an IMR of 31 in 2024, while Arunachal Pradesh stood at 17, Mizoram 12, Nagaland 12, Tripura 12, Sikkim 7 and Manipur 2.