Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam has achieved a major public health milestone, recording an 82 percent reduction in its maternal mortality ratio over the past two decades. Latest data shows the state's ratio has dropped to 84 deaths per 100,000 live births. This figure puts Assam below the national average of 88 for the first time in history.
This progress marks a dramatic turnaround for a state that previously held the highest maternal mortality burden in India. Between 2004 and 2006, Assam recorded 480 maternal deaths per 100,000 births, a figure nearly double the national average at the time. By 2007 and 2009, the rate had fallen to 390, and subsequent years have seen that trend continue toward the current record.
While Assam has surpassed several high-burden states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha, it still trails behind southern states. Kerala and Andhra Pradesh currently lead the country with ratios of 30, while the collective average for southern states remains at 42. Despite this gap, health experts view Assam's rapid decline as a significant success, especially given the state's exceptionally high starting point.
The national maternal mortality ratio has also seen a steady decline across India, dropping from 254 two decades ago to the current level of 88. Alongside these maternal health gains, Assam has also seen improvements in infant mortality indicators during the same period.
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