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MUMBAI: Haemorrhage, sepsis, hypertensive disorders and tuberculosis have for years been the leading causes of maternal mortality in Mumbai. In 2020-21, however, Covid-19 has raced past all to contribute to the biggest share of maternal deaths, according to data from the BMC.
An analysis of 193 maternal deaths in Mumbai from April 2020 to March 2021 showed 16.5% were caused due to complications arising out of Covid-19. Sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection, came second contributing to 12% of deaths, TB and haemorrhage accounted for 8.8% each and heart ailments for 4%, as per RTI information gathered by Chetan Kothari.
The city’s overall maternal mortality numbers (193) dropped 20% in 2020-21 compared to 2019-20 (241), possibly because of fewer deliveries amid the pandemic. From an average of 1.50lakh child births, deliveries dropped to 1.20lakh in 2020.
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The second wave of the pandemic has affected pregnant women much more severely than the first and also caused more maternal deaths, said the gynaecologists and obstetricians we interviewed across the country. But despite their heightened vulnerability, India’s vaccine policy does not allow pregnant women to be vaccinated and this needs to change, they said. The risks from Covid are far higher than the risks from vaccines, as we detail later.
But many doctors said vaccinations for expecting and lactating women should be allowed.
Pune-based gynaecologist Sanjay Gupte said, Covishield and Covaxin do not contain any live virus. They are non-replicating virus vaccines. There is no biological mechanism that can cause infection to the mother or unborn foetus. So there is no transmission in pregnancy or through breast milk. Besides, it is unethical to deny them their fundamental right to health. Gupte is the chairman (ethical committee) of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. Countries like the US, UK, and Australia have included pregnant/breastfeeding women in the Covid vaccination process, Gupte said.