Lok Sabha Question No. 136 (STARRED), answered on 2016-03-04
Subject: Miscarriages
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: DALPAT SINGH PARASTE, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 1 36 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 04 TH MARCH , 2016 MISCARRIAGES

## *136. SHRI DALPAT SINGH PARASTE: KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether as per the recent study, the miscarriage rate among Indian wom higher as compared to global figure;
- (b) if so, the details of the s tudy and the reasons for higher rate of miscarriages;
- (c) the number of pregnant women presently availing the benefits of Central Schemes in Primary Health Centres; and
- (d) the steps taken/being taken to reduce the incidents of miscarriages?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA )

- (a) to (d ):  A statement is laid on the Table of the House

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 136* FOR 04 TH MARCH , 2016

a) & b) A recent study titled 'An Epidemiology Study  to Determine the Prevalence and  Risk  Factors  Associated  with  Recurrent  Spontaneous  Miscarriage  in  India' published in 2015, states that of the 2398 Indian females screened, 767 (32% history  of  at  least  one  spontaneous miscarriage.  The  risk  factors  associated  with recurrent spontaneous abortion ,as mentioned in the study ,include the age of the woman, clotting disorders, immunological factors, infections and genetic diso

However,  the  results  of  the  study  cannot  be generalized  to  the  entire population of India on account of its small sample size representing only Cities and having selection bias, it does not provide robust estimates at th level.

As per the survey data of District Level Household An d Facility Survey (DLHS 3), 2007 - 08, 4.7 % of all pregnancies of currently married women aged 1 -49 years ended in spontaneous abortion. While all India figures for DLHS -4 (2012 13)  are  unavailable,  data  from  18  States  show  that  rate  of  spontaneous  a ion among  currently  married  women  aged  15 - 49  years  varies  from  6.2  %  in  Goa (maximum)  to  0.1  %  in  Tripura  (minimum),  which  is  much  lower  than  the  32% quoted in the study.

- c) Number  of  pregnant  women  receiving  benefits  under  the  Central  Healt Schemes in all h ealth care facilities including Primary Health Centres i follows:
1. More than 1.15 Crore pregnant women have received benefits under th Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram  (JSSK) in 2014 - 15.
2. More than 1 crore pregnant women receive benefits under the Janani Suraksha Yojana every year.
3. More  than  5.86  lakh  women  have  received  benefits  under  the  Indi Gandhi  Matritva  Sahyog  Yojana  of  Ministry  of  Women  &  Child Development in 2014 - 15.

d)  Government of India has taken the following steps to address the is sue of foetal loss due to preventable causes :

The  Reproductive  Maternal  Newborn  Child  &  Adolescent  Health (RMNCH+A)  strategy  of continuum of care throughout the life cycle of wome , under the National Health Mission , emphasizes  on  providing  quality  ante natal care  to  all  pregnant  women  and  timely  detection  of  any  risk  factors  tha threaten the life of the  foetus or the pregnant woman. Each visit inclu that  is  appropriate  to  the  overall  condition  and  stage  of  pregnancy. pregnant  woman  re ceives  at  least  4  ante  natal  checkups  during  pregnan (Registration and 1st ante natal check - up within 12 weeks, 14 - 26 weeks, 28 - 32 weeks and 36 - 40 weeks).

The availability of Nishchay kit ensures early detection of pregnan the health centres and out reach facilities. Mother and Child Tracking System i used  to  ensure  early  registration  of  pregnancy  and  full  ANC.  The  ti availability  of  nutrients  like  folic  acid  in  the  prenatal  period  and months of pregnancy avoids neural defects in the foetus. Iron and folic acid given to  women  in  the  reproductive  age  group  and  during  pregnancy  preven complications due to anaemia. The supplementation of calcium during pregna has  been  rolled  out  to  reduce  incidence  of  Pre - eclampsia  and  hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.

In order to address the issue of miscarriages due to infections like Immuno deficiency Virus (HIV) and Syphilis, Government of India (GOI) ha already launched an initiative for universal screening of pregnant women fo V and Syphilis.

Similarly various measures have been initiated to reduce the inciden foetal  loss  like  the  universal  screening  of  pregnant  women  for  Gesta Diabetes Mellitus and screening of pregnant women with risk of Hypothyroidism.

Under JSSK,women are entitled to free transport, drugs,  diagnostics management  at  the  health  care  centres  in  case  there  are  any  symptoms miscarriage. As and when required, women are provided services to complet evacuate the spontaneous abortion of the foe tus to avoid any complication due to continuous bleeding. Model Comprehensive abortion care centres are also b set up in order to provide abortion services to women.