A Correlation Analysis between Maternal Health Service Indicators Aggregate Scoring and Maternal Mortality Ratio: A Quantitative Study of States in India

India has made significant progress in improving maternal health and reducing maternal mortality in recent decades. However, disparities in Maternal Mortality Rates (MMR) across states and socioeconomic groups persist, highlighting the need for comprehensive evaluation of Maternal Health Services (MHS). This study aims to investigate the correlation between aggregate MHS scores and MMR within Indian states and identify states exhibiting marked disparities between MHS scores and MMR for prioritized interventions. The study employed a quantitative, observational design using data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) and Sample Registration System (SRS). Seven key maternal health indicators from NFHS-5 were used to calculate aggregate MHS scores. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the relationship between MHS scores and MMR. A strong negative correlation was found between aggregate MHS scores and MMR across Indian states (r = -0.7949, p < 0.0001). States with higher MHS scores, such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, had lower MMR, while states with lower scores, like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, had higher MMR. The strength of the correlation increased from 2015 to 2020. The findings emphasize the importance of targeted interventions in underperforming states to improve maternal health outcomes. State-specific research, customized strategies, resource allocation, and dissemination of best practices from high-performing states are recommended to reduce maternal mortality and promote equitable access to quality maternal healthcare across India.