Achieving Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 in India

Abstract

Please cite this paper as: Chatterjee A, Paily VP. Achieving Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 in India. BJOG 2011;118 (Suppl. 2):47–59. This review relates to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially MDGs 4 and 5, by India by the year 2015. India contributes the maximum number of maternal deaths (68 000) to the global estimate of 358 000 maternal deaths annually. Infant mortality rate (IMR) is also high at 50 per 1000 (2009). Low budgetary spending on health, poverty, lower literacy, poor nutritional status, rural–urban divide and lack of trained workers in the health sector are cited as reasons for a high maternal mortality ratio and IMR. Increased spending by the Government of India on the health sector has started to show encouraging results. Recent assessments by world bodies like the World Health Organisation have given hope that MDGs 4 and 5 are achievable.

The correlation of health spending and infant mortality rate in Asian countries

“…In a study on achieving the millennium developmental goals in India, the authors pointed out that poverty, low literacy, poor nutritional status , urban-rural divide and lower budgetary allocations are the reasons most responsible for high IMR and increasing governmental spending has started showing encouraging results. 20 A cross-country study in seven Pacific island countries evaluated the relationship between per capita health expenditure and health outcomes such as infant mortality rate and the results provided strong evidence that per capita health expenditure is an important factor in determining health outcomes. The study suggested that a 10% increase in per capita health expenditure in a country such as Papua New Guinea would see a reduction of 3.6 in the IMR.…”

Public Health Interventions, Barriers, and Opportunities for Improving Maternal Nutrition in India

“…Although significant strides have been made in reducing maternal and infant mortality in the last few decades, the current rates of decline remain inadequate to meet the desired goals [23]. We identified several existing platforms through which nutrition interventions such as IFA supplementation, micronutrient-fortified staple foods (flour and salt), and food supplements are being delivered along with education and counseling (table 3), as well as alternative platforms that can be explored further (table 4).…”

“…Monetary incentives vary by state, place of residence (urban vs. rural), and type of delivery (vaginal vs. cesarean), and range between US$4 and US$34. The program includes early registration of pregnancy, birth planning, "referral transport (home to institution), institutional birth, post delivery visit and reporting, family planning and counseling, and behavior change communication to promote institutional deliveries" [23]. In addition to programs offered by the Integrated Child Development Services and the National Rural Health Mission that directly address nutrition, there are government and nongovernmental organization (NGO)-supported programs that indirectly affect maternal health and nutrition and that provide potential platforms for future interventions.…”

SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS INFLUENCING UTILIZATION OF ANTENATAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES UNDER JSSK IN A RURAL AREA OF J&K: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

“…An article review by A Chatterjee and VP Pailey reveal that overall in India educated women are more likely to receive a full course of IFA, receive Tetanus toxoid. (11) The study found that more than a 2/3 rd of the women visited the health facility regularly for checkups. The reasons given by those who had irregular visits were that they were unaware of the services, non-accessibility to the facility and financial problems.…”