1Professor, Department of Economics, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh, India
2Junior Research Fellow, Department of Economics, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh, India
(*Corresponding author) email id: dr.nitijain@gmail.com
Online published on 5 January, 2026.
Maternal health is the backbone of human life and a critical foundation for future generations, holding a significant place in the development of the world economy. Many national and international organizations focus on key components of maternal healthcare: Antenatal Care, Delivery Care, and Post-natal Care, with the goal of reducing maternal mortality to targeted levels. However, there are stark regional variations in accessibility to maternal healthcare across Indian states, reflected in disparities in Maternal Mortality Ratios (MMR). According to the Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality in India (2018-20), Madhya Pradesh reports an MMR of 173 per 100,000 live births, the second highest in the country, indicating poor maternal health outcomes. This paper examines regional variations in maternal healthcare access, identifying key socio-economic, demographic, and infrastructural factors contributing to inequalities and assessing their impact on maternal health outcomes across Indian states. The findings reveal significant disparities in the accessibility of maternal healthcare services between rural and urban areas, particularly in Madhya Pradesh, where socio-economic status, demographic characteristics, and infrastructure availability play a vital role in the accessibility of maternal healthcare services and their outcomes.
Maternal Health, Regional Variation, Maternal Inequalities, Determining Factors
