2 weeks Ago By Express News Service
BENGALURU: Over 70% of 464 maternal deaths reported in Karnataka between April and December last could have been prevented, according to a maternal death audit report of the state government.The report highlights lapses in government and private hospitals. At least 10 deaths were linked to negligence by doctors, while 18 were associated with the use of Ringer's lactate fluid.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, who released the report, said 70% of maternal deaths could have been prevented with timely care and adherence to medical protocols. “Key gaps flagged include poor decision-making at the facility level during pregnancy complications such as anaemia, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, and infections. Induction of labour was often done against the Union government’s guidelines and referral protocols, with many patients transferred without prior communication or stabilisation,” he said.
A significant 63% of maternal deaths occurred after caesarean sections underlining the need to promote vaginal births and optimise caesarean rates. Facilities lacked essential preparedness, including adequate blood supply, emergency drugs, and life-saving tools such as Non-pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment, uterine balloon tamponades, and SR cannulas. SOPs for antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care were also not implemented properly, Gundu Rao said.
Min: Efforts on to reduce MMRHealth Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the government is working to reduce the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), currently at 57, to below 20. TN has an MMR of 54, while Kerala just 18.The findings revealed that about 10% of deaths occurred in transit, pointing to delays and lack of stabilisation during hospital transfers and highlighted that antenatal care quality was poor, with inconsistent monitoring of hemoglobin, BP and sugar levels, and weight gain and infections.
“Most of the women who died were aged between 19 and 25, and many were first or second-time mothers with risk factors such as high BP, diabetes, or heart issues,” he said.What made the government conduct a detailed maternal death audit was a cluster of five maternal deaths in Ballari District Hospital in November 2024 -- all occurred within three days of cesarean sections. Of the 18 deaths linked to Ringer lactate solution, five occurred in Ballari, four in Raichur, four in Bengaluru Urban, three in Uttara Kannada, and one each in Yadgir and Belagavi.
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