Question

What is the national percentage of live births without medical attention of qualified professionals in India?

• A. 0.1%
• B. 48.7%
• C. 7.8%
• D. 80.7%

Answer 1

Answer:

C. 7.8%

Understanding Births Without Medical Attention

• Definition: "Births without medical attention of qualified professionals" refers to deliveries not attended by a skilled health professional such as a doctor, nurse, auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM), or other trained medical personnel.
• Risks: Such births significantly increase the risk of complications, infections, and mortality for both the mother and the newborn, highlighting the importance of institutional deliveries.

National Scenario in India

• The national percentage of live births without medical attention of qualified professionals in India stands at 7.8%.
• This figure, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21), represents a remarkable improvement from previous decades, indicating a significant shift towards institutional deliveries.
• For competitive exams, remember that this signifies that over 92% of births in India now occur in health facilities or are assisted by trained professionals.

Government Initiatives for Maternal and Child Health

The Indian government has launched several schemes to promote institutional deliveries and improve maternal and child health outcomes:

• Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK): Launched in 2011, it entitles pregnant women to free and cashless services, including free diagnostics, blood transfusions, and diet during their stay in public health institutions.
• Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): A demand promotion and conditional cash transfer scheme launched in 2005, aiming to reduce maternal and infant mortality by encouraging institutional delivery among poor pregnant women.
• Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA): Started in 2016, this initiative provides free antenatal care services by medical professionals on the 9th of every month to pregnant women at government health facilities.
• LaQshya (Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative): Launched in 2017, it aims to improve the quality of care in labor rooms and maternity operation theaters in public health facilities.

Impact on Health Indicators

• Increased institutional deliveries are a primary driver behind the significant decline in India's Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) over the past two decades.
• This progress is crucial for India to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.1, which aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.

Regional Disparities and Kerala Model

• While the national average shows improvement, significant disparities exist across states regarding the percentage of home births.
• Kerala Model of Development: Kerala stands out with nearly 100% institutional deliveries, one of the highest in India. This achievement is a cornerstone of the 'Kerala Model,' which prioritizes public health infrastructure, universal access to healthcare, and high literacy rates, contributing to superior health outcomes compared to many other states.
• Understanding these regional variations is vital for competitive exams, especially when questions relate to state-specific development models.

Key Data Sources for Competitive Exams

• The National Family Health Survey (NFHS), conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is the most comprehensive source of data on health, nutrition, and family welfare in India. Data from NFHS-3, NFHS-4, and NFHS-5 are frequently asked in exams.
• Reports from the Registrar General of India (RGI) also provide crucial demographic and health statistics.