The global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) has dropped significantly. India still accounts for 17 percent of the global MMR.

The United Nations (UN) and The Lancet Global Health have released a report that suggests that the global MMR has dropped 45 percent from 1990. The total number of maternal deaths in 1990 was 5.2 lakh, which has reduced down to 2.89 lakh in 2013. MMR is calculated by finding the number of women who die during pregnancy or childbirth during a given year "per one lakh live births in that year."

"Together, the two reports highlight the need to invest in proven solutions, such as quality care for all women during pregnancy and childbirth, and particular care for pregnant women with existing medical conditions," says Flavia Bustreo, Assistant Director-General for World Health Organization's (WHO) Family, Women's and Children's Health.

Reports suggest that in 2013 the MMR was 210, when compared to the MMR in 1990 that stood at 380. Even though the global MMR has reduced substantially India still needs to put more efforts to reduce the MMR further. According to the released reports, India and Nigeria accounts for nearly one third of the global maternal deaths. The data reveals that in 2013 India accounted for about 50,000 maternal deaths followed by Nigeria that accounted for 40,000 maternal deaths.

On the other hand, China, which has the largest population in the world, reported only 5,900 maternal deaths. Experts suggest that the low figure is due to the country's one child policy.

Even though India has been successful in improving the figures from 2007 - 2009 to 2011 - 2012, the country is still far away from getting near to the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) mandates. The reports suggest that India and nine other countries together are responsible for 60 percent of the worldwide maternal deaths. The other nine countries are Uganda, Kenya, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan, Indonesia, Ethiopia, United Republic of Tanzania and Nigeria.

The MMR in India is reducing at 4.5 percent on an average annually. However, the country should get to a reduction rate of 5.5 percent annually to meet the MDG.

The report released by the UN also highlights causes responsible for maternal deaths, which also need to be addressed. A WHO analysis states that pre-existing medical conditions such as HIV, diabetes, obesity and more in pregnant women are also responsible for over one in every four maternal deaths. The report points out that over 60,000 maternal deaths spread across 115 countries were caused due to pre-existing medical illnesses of women that may have got aggravated due to pregnancy.