SHILLONG: Only 62 of the 431 health sub-centres in the State have facilities for institutional delivery, a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has said.
Institutional delivery in Meghalaya is “poor” and ranged between 49 per cent and 53 per cent and traditional delivery between 47 per cent and 51 per cent, the report said.
The beneficiary survey also revealed that pregnant women found it convenient to deliver at home than at health institutions as they were far away.
The CAG report stated that had the sub-centres been equipped with infrastructure, beneficiaries would have been encouraged to opt for institutional delivery.
The Health Secretary, in December 2016, said the trend is because of traditional customs and beliefs, especially in rural areas.
He also said the number of institutional delivery would be increased through the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan initiative.
During the period from 2011-16, the number of institutional delivery in West Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi districts was the lowest and ranged between 27-49 per cent and 54-68 per cent, respectively. In West Garo Hills, it was between 60-86 per cent.