Mumbai Reports 325 Maternal Deaths in 4 Years, RTI Data Shows

Maternal deaths in Mumbai continue to fluctuate despite a steady decline in neonatal and infant mortality, according to RTI data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). While neonatal and infant deaths fell from 1,846 in 2022 to 1,687 in 2024, the city recorded 325 maternal deaths over the last four years, with annual figures ranging between 70 and 93 since 2022.

Health officials said nearly half of these maternal deaths involved women referred from neighbouring districts such as Thane, Palghar and other parts of Maharashtra. Excluding referral cases, Mumbai's maternal mortality ratio (MMR) remains below the Sustainable Development Goal target of 70 deaths per 1,00,000 live births, but rises above 80 when all cases are included, according to an Economic Times report.

Doctors attributed the persistent maternal mortality burden to delayed referrals of high-risk pregnancies, pre-existing conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and hypertension, pregnancy-related complications, and seasonal infections including leptospirosis, malaria, dengue and hepatitis. Experts stressed that timely referral of complicated pregnancies to tertiary care centres and a stronger triaging system could significantly reduce preventable maternal deaths.