Assessing the Contribution of the Prime Minister’s Safe Motherhood Campaign to Child Survival in India

Francis Zavier Arockiavictorial John, Population Research Centre, The Gandhigram Institute of Rural Health And Family Welfare Trust
N Kavitha, Chief, Population Research Centre, Gandhigram

Identifying and managing high-risk pregnancy cases through quality and comprehensive antenatal care is the goal of the Prime Minister’s Safe Motherhood Campaign (PMSMA), launched in 2016. Using data from DHS India surveys 2015-16 and 2019-21, this paper measures the contribution of PMSMA in reducing neonatal and infant mortality. The key independent variable capturing the impact of PMSMA is an index of comprehensive maternal care. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were applied. The results show a statistically significant reduction in neonatal and infant mortality rates between 2015-16 and 2019-21 (NMR: 19 to 16; IMR: 22 to 20 per 1,000 live births). Concurrently, there were notable improvements in the percentage of women receiving comprehensive maternal care. The proportion of women scoring 12-17 on the comprehensive maternal care index increased from 57% to 80%. Fairlie’s decomposition analysis suggests that this increase contributed to a 81% reduction in NMR and a 63% reduction in IMR. Additionally, maternal education (14%-21%), food supplements, and advice received during pregnancy and breastfeeding (11%-19%) were also significant contributors to the reduction in mortality rates. The findings indicate that tracking and managing high-risk pregnancies contributes to improved child survival. The study calls for more efficient implementation of PMSMA across all states.

Keywords: Decomposition analysis, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Mortality and Longevity

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