India’s Leadership in Maternal Health and Family Planning
Context:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has recognised India’s extraordinary progress in advancing Maternal Health and Family Planning.
UNFPAThe UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA aims to ensure every pregnancy is wanted, childbirth is safe, and every young person can reach their full potential. Operating in over 150 countries, it promotes gender equality, access to family planning, maternal health, and the elimination of gender-based violence. Three Transformative Goals for 2030:
History and Partnerships: Founded in 1969, UNFPA is funded by voluntary contributions and collaborates with various UN agencies. Its mission is grounded in human rights and aligns with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. |
Key Findings About India:
- Significant Reduction in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): India has reduced the MMR by 70% between 2000 and 2020.
- Recognition of Family Planning Achievements: Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in India has been reduced below the replacement level (TFR-2).
- New contraceptive options, including Subdermal Implants and Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA), have been introduced.
- Leadership in Global Health Forums: India holds key roles in global partnerships like the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) and Family Planning 2030 (FP2030).
Initiatives taken by the Government
Maternal Health Initiatives:
- Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN): Launched to provide assured, dignified, and quality maternity care services, zero-tolerance for denial of services to pregnant women and newborns.
- Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA): It is a nationwide program offering free, assured, and comprehensive antenatal care to pregnant women on the 9th of every month.
- Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): A safe motherhood intervention under the National Health Mission (NHM), its financial incentives to promote institutional deliveries among poor pregnant women, aiming to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.
- Midwifery Services Initiative: It Aims to strengthen midwifery services across India by training and deploying skilled midwives.
- LaQshya Program: It focuses on improving the quality of care during childbirth in labour rooms and maternity operation theatres in public health facilities.
Family Planning Programs:
- Mission Parivar Vikas: Targets high fertility districts with high unmet needs for family planning services.
- Expansion of Contraceptive Choices: The government has expanded the range of contraceptive options available in the public health system.
- New methods include injectables like Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA) and Subdermal Implants to offer more choices for family planning.
- National Family Planning Program: Provides a comprehensive range of contraceptive methods (condoms, oral contraceptive pills, IUCDs, sterilisation).
- Promotes postpartum family planning, ensuring that women receive family planning services immediately after delivery.
- Family Planning Logistics Management Information System (FP-LMIS):A digital platform to ensure the availability of family planning commodities by tracking supply chain management at all levels.
Conclusion:
The Indian Government steps have resulted in positive results in controlling maternal mortality and family planning however the government should focus on some high fertility districts to obtain maximum results.