Jakarta, IO – The maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Indonesia remains a formidable hurdle in national health development. According to data from the 2025 Intercensal Population Survey (SUPAS), the nation’s MMR stands at 144 deaths per 100,000 live births. While this reflects a steady improvement compared to previous years, the figure remains starkly detached from the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target, which mandates a reduction to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Dr. dr. Eugenius Phyowai Ganap, Sp.OG, Subsp.Obginsos., an obstetrician and gynaecologist who lectures at Gadjah Mada University’s (UGM) Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, as quote by Ugm.ac.id on Monday (15/6/2026), noted that while this progress deserves appreciation, national efforts must be continually intensified. He stressed that, when looking at the 2030 SDGs, Indonesia faces a monumental task to close this gap within the next five years.
Dr. Phyowai maintains that the high maternal mortality rate cannot be blamed on a single factor. While deploying qualified healthcare professionals is crucial, their presence must be backed by resilient health infrastructure and an efficiently functioning referral system. High-quality human resources simply cannot work optimally if medical facilities are inadequate, or if the pipeline to advanced care breaks down.
Furthermore, fostering sharp early detection skills among frontline medical staff remains a critical variable. Though the Government, through the Health Ministry (Kemenkes), has already taken proactive steps to improve the distribution of healthcare workers—including specialized obstetricians—practical execution is still hindered by systemic challenges.
To counter this, he advocates a clear mechanism of rewards and penalties, to ensure that healthcare workers who receive state-sponsored education and regional assignments fully honor their responsibilities, based on community needs.
Three Delays During Obstetric Emergencies
Disparities in maternal mortality across the archipelago are not strictly a matter of urban versus rural development. Instead, the root issue lies in the frequent occurrence of the “three delays” during obstetric emergencies. The first delay begins at home, driven by a family or primary care facility’s inability to recognize warning signs and initiate early intervention.
The second delay occurs during transport and referral to comprehensive medical centers. The barriers here are highly regionalized; in rugged territories like Papua, geographical isolation is the primary obstacle, whereas in major metropolises, severe traffic congestion paralyzes transport.
Ironically, a dense concentration of hospitals in urban areas can also cause a paradox of choice, leading to confusion when deciding on the correct destination. Because obstetric emergencies have a rigid “golden period” that dictates the survival of both mother and child, avoiding any bottleneck in seeking medical attention is absolutely critical.
Beyond emergency response, structured family planning and proactive medicine are vital pillars in lowering the MMR. Contraception plays a decisive role in preventing unplanned or unwanted pregnancies, directly mitigating the cascading health risks associated with high-risk gestations. Currently, clinical data shows that hemorrhage, pregnancy-induced hypertension (preeclampsia), and infections remain the primary drivers of maternal death in Indonesia.
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However, a troubling new trend is emerging: a rise in fatalities stemming from previously undetected comorbidities. Medical professionals are increasingly seeing mortality driven by underlying conditions, such as congenital heart disease, that are only discovered once a pregnancy is already underway.
To systematically neutralize these hidden threats, Dr. Phyowai emphasizes the absolute necessity of pre-conception care. Rather than waiting for a positive pregnancy test, women should ideally undergo thorough health screenings well before planning a family, allowing risk factors to be managed or treated early on.
Ultimately, accelerating the reduction of Indonesia’s maternal mortality rate depends on a multi-pronged strategy. Success will require a simultaneous push to raise public literacy regarding reproductive health, fortify the regional referral network, ensure the equitable distribution of clinical services, and rigorously implement standardized prenatal care across the country. (est)