Fri Apr 04 15:08:28 UTC 2025: ## Karnataka’s Preventable Maternal Deaths Highlight Systemic Issues: Report

**Bengaluru, April 4, 2025** – A new report reveals a shocking statistic: 70% of maternal deaths in Karnataka between April and December 2024 were preventable, according to a government-commissioned audit. The interim report, submitted Friday to Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, examined 464 maternal deaths, finding that a majority (380 or 82%) occurred within 42 days of childbirth.

The audit, led by the director of the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services, was triggered by a cluster of five maternal deaths in Ballari last November. The report highlights several key contributing factors:

* **Lack of timely, effective treatment:** 69% of deceased mothers had multiple risk factors such as anaemia, hypertension, and gestational diabetes, and the report indicates that appropriate treatment plans could have saved their lives.
* **High C-section rate:** 63% of deaths were associated with Cesarean births, prompting recommendations to optimize C-section procedures and promote vaginal delivery where feasible.
* **Inadequate pre-hospital care:** Approximately 10% (45) of deaths occurred during transport to or between hospitals, indicating a need for improved stabilization of patients before referral.
* **Insufficient resources at healthcare facilities:** The report points to a lack of essential supplies, including blood, drugs, and equipment like uterine balloon tamponades and NASGs, as a significant contributing factor.

The report’s findings place a significant burden on the Karnataka health system. With 530 maternal deaths in 2024-25, the state’s Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) stands at 57. Minister Rao has pledged to reduce this number to 19 within two years, matching Kerala’s MMR. He emphasized the government’s commitment to eliminating preventable maternal deaths through improved healthcare services and quality of care. The report serves as a stark reminder of the systemic issues plaguing maternal healthcare in Karnataka and the urgent need for comprehensive reform.

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