Improvement of Maternal and Child Healthcare Indicators to meet the target of Sustainable Development Goals in Odisha

ABSTRACT

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)aim to improve the better life of human beings across the world adopted by the UN in 2015. The objective of this agenda is to push international and national actors to provide quality healthcare, improve health indicators, and outcomes and strengthenhealth systems. Maternal and child health are important health components in this agenda. This paper aims to track the progress of key maternal and child healthcare indicators related to SDGs. Odisha has been trying to improve the maternal and child health indicators to meet the SDG targets byimplementing various policies and health programs. The Maternal Mortality Ratio of Odisha has reported119 (SRS 2020) maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and aims to achieve 70 by 2030. There has been an improvement in the percentageof women who had four or more antenatal care visits (78%), births attended by skilled health personnel (92%), and mothers who received postnatal care from health professionals (88%). The Under-five Mortality of Odisha has declined from 91 (NFHS 3) to 41 in NFHS 5. As per the SRS 2020 report,the neo-natal (death less than 29 days) mortality rate in India stands at 20 and in Odisha stands at 28. NFHS 5 data also indicated that the Neonatal mortality rate stands at 25 at the national level and 27 at the state level.The children between ages 12-23 months received all basic vaccinations against six major childhood illnesses stands at 90.7percent. To meet the SDG targets, the state of Odisha requires improvement in healthcare services and addressing the issues like accessibility, availability, equitable, quality service delivery, and affordable healthcare services for all.