PATNA: Bihar has registered a decline of 11 points in the maternal mortality rate between 2011- 13. According to figures released by Registrar General of India this week, 208 mothers die in the state per one lakh live births. This translates into 7,680 women dying every year in the state after childbirth, which is still the second highest across the country. Most of these deaths are preventable. Maternal deaths are defined as deaths of mothers that take place within 42 days of childbirth. Institutional deliveries (childbirth in any health institution rather than home), considered key to reducing maternal deaths, have gone up in the state. However, maternal deaths have not reduced in the same proportion. Experts attribute this to the fact that half the mothers do not stay in hospital even for 24 hours, which is considered critical period. Complications like rise in blood pressure and excessive bleeding after childbirth develop during this period, which are leading causes of deaths. While at times health providers themselves ask such mothers to go away, others leave the hospital because of lack of awareness.

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