THE SITUATION
We are losing a woman from pregnancy or childbirth complications every two minutes, and with every passing minute, a child under five dies.
45,000 women die annually in India due to pregnancy and childbirth-related complications.
That’s nearly 125 women every day, making up 15% of the global maternal deaths.
Furthermore, over 800,000 children under the age of five die each year in India.
This staggering figure equates to more than one child every minute.
Most of these Deaths are Preventable – and this is unacceptable.
INTERVENTION CONTEXT IN INDIA
India has a complex public health landscape:
Maternal Mortality in the country is significantly higher than in developed countries
Neonatal and infant mortality rates remain high, with most deaths occurring within the first seven days of a child's life
Diverse demography
Socio-economic disparities
Underequipped healthcare systems
Complicated geography
Social and cultural norms
Unfair disease burden
Despite significant strides, India continues to face challenges in tackling mortality rates, especially in specific states.
PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT THE VULNERABLE
Madhya Pradesh (MP) has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the country and progresses at half the rate of the national average.
Most maternal and child deaths in the state are due to preventable causes and disproportionally impact the socio-economically weaker sections.
Within India, 16 states have below average Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), Madhya Pradesh (MP) amongst worst performing states
Madhya Pradesh has highest tribal population with 15M+ people - that is nearly 15 % of the nation’s tribal population.
This tribal population is characterized by lack of access, poor quality of care and social norms and practices detrimental to the health of women and children, leading to them performing poorly on several health indicators in comparison to other social classes
19%
greater risk of dying in the neonatal period
45%
greater risk of dying in the post-neonatal period
14%
Child mortality rate
(~5% among other groups)
14%
lesser institutional delivery rates
13%
more cases of stunting
ON-GROUND COMPLEXITY
LOCAL HEALTH SYSTEMS ARE OVERBURDENED
Frontline workers face scattered populations, limited capacity, and disjointed workflows, leaving them disconnected from the vulnerable, who remain unaware of their healthcare needs and often resist services.
THESE SYSTEMS PRODUCE INCONSISTENT SERVICE
Underserved populations, already unaware of their medical needs, continue to suffer due to delays in risk identification, management, counseling, support, and referrals.
THIS RESULTS IN LIFE-LONG HEALTH COMPLICATIONS
Lack of early care leads to severe long-term consequences—chronic health issues, life-long afflictions, and, all too often, death for the most vulnerable, already facing last-mile healthcare challenges.
ROADBLOCKS TO HEALTH EQUITY
Low Knowledge Scores of frontline workers and insufficient training and development
Complex geography and poor transportation results in limited healthcare access
Weak Health Systems Management for logistics, infrastructure and
data reporting
Lack of health education and awareness in communities about their health needs
Limited risk management, emergency care, and specialized services
Inconsistent health-seeking behavior with a preference for home deliveries and stigma toward institutional care