Shillong: Meghalaya has achieved notable progress in maternal healthcare according to the 2023 to 2024 National Family Health Survey. The state now reports that 65 percent of all births occur within medical facilities, marking a steady improvement in access to safe childbirth services.
Public health facilities have become increasingly utilized, handling 55.7 percent of births compared to 49.1 percent in the previous survey. This growth extends beyond urban centers, where institutional delivery rates reached 84 percent, to rural areas which posted a solid 63.3 percent. Statewide, 70 percent of deliveries are now managed by skilled health personnel.
Health officials attribute these gains to better community outreach, stronger primary health centers, and targeted maternal programs that have fostered greater trust in the system. The survey also noted a decline in statewide caesarean section rates, which dropped from 8.2 percent to 6.4 percent. This shift suggests a more selective use of the procedure, though significant disparities persist. Private facilities recorded a 36.2 percent C-section rate, while public institutions maintained a much lower rate of 5 percent.
Experts and administrators are now calling for continued clinical oversight and improved referral systems to address these gaps. The state plans to sustain this momentum by further investing in frontline health worker training and maternal nutrition to ensure safer outcomes for mothers and newborns across the region.
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