Strategies for reduction in Infant Mortality Rate in India

Abstract

The number of deaths of children under one year of age per thousand life is defined as infant mortality rate. Presently, the infant mortality rate in India is about 25 per thousand births. The major component of infant mortality is in the age group of 0 to 28 days (Neonatal Period). Neonatal period deaths contributes more than 70% of the total infant mortality.

There are important lessons from in Kerala, one of developed states of the country with infant mortality of 4, which has been reported form Developed countries of world. All states can achieve this IMR with multi sectoral interventions.

 What are major reasons of low IMR in Kerala is i) universal access to the healthcare for antenatal mothers and Neonates ii) strong healthcare delivery system. Iii) Adequate Obstetric care iv) universal Immunization of antenatal mother and Infants v) Nutritional supplementation vi) Low prevalence of anemia among pregnant mothers vii) identification of high risk mothers and timely referral to the higher level of health care services, viii) universal breastfeeding practices ix) nearly 100 percent institutional deliveries by Trained and skilled birth attendants, x) the infection control services xi) development of secondary level health care for the infants and mothers for who are referred particularly Newborns with prematurity / birth Asphyxia /Congenital diseases / neonatal sepsis .xii)implementation of India Newborn Action Plan (INAP) xiii) Improving antenatal care xiv) timely detection of Pneumonia and diarrheal diseases xv) adoption of Kangaroo care for preterm babies xvi) avoiding teen age pregnancy xvii) Ensuring support for Universal institutional deliveries xviii) filling up of all peripheral health workers positions xix) Universal Implementaion of ICDS scheme xx) intensive specific evidence based efforts in districts with high infant mortality