Infant Mortality

India's infant mortality rate touches low of 25, down from 40 in 2013

Infant mortality rate (IMR) in the country has touched a record low of 25, a sharp dip of 37.5 per cent from 40 in 2013, according to the Sample Registration System report for 2023 issued by the Registrar General of India. IMR is a key public health indicator defined as number of deaths of children per 1,000 live births under one year -- the lower the number the better the health accessibility. According to the SRS 2023 report, which took into account the data for 2023, IMR has registered a dramatic 80 per cent decline from 129 in 1971. It shows that Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh reported the highest levels of IMR in the country at 37. The lowest was Manipur at 3. Kerala was the only of the 21 large states which reported a single digit IMR of 5. It is second in the country after Manipur. The report shows a countrywide decline of IMR from 44 to 28 in rural areas. In in urban areas of the country the numbers dipped from 27 to 18. This marks decadal drops of about 36

India cuts maternal, infant deaths: MMR, IMR and NMR show big gains

India has made progress in reducing maternal and child deaths, with SRS 2021 data showing declines in MMR, IMR, U5MR and NMR-and improving sex ratio, TFR, and SDG alignment

Worldwide infant mortality rate drops by two-third over 50 years: Report

In Southeast Asia alone, 38.04 million lives were saved by vaccines in 2024, compared to 34.82 million in 2020, 15.70 million in 2000, and 5.35 million in 1990

US infant mortality rate rises; CDC says largest increase in two decades

The US infant mortality rate rose 3 per cent last year the largest increase in two decades, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. White and Native American infants, infant boys and babies born at 37 weeks or earlier had significant death rate increases. The CDC's report, published on Wednesday, also noted larger increases for two of the leading causes of infant deaths maternal complications and bacterial meningitis. It's definitely concerning, given that it's going in the opposite direction from what it has been, said Marie Thoma, a University of Maryland researcher who studies maternal and infant mortality. Dr. Eric Eichenwald, a Philadelphia-based neonatologist, called the new data disturbing, but said experts at this point can only speculate as to why a statistic that generally has been falling for decades rose sharply in 2022. RSV and flu infections rebounded last fall after two years of pandemic precautions, filling pediatric emergency rooms across the

Not-so-young future as India's fertility rate dips, shows data

Infant mortality and under-five mortality has reduced from 40.7 to 35.2 and 49.7 to 41.9

Air pollution in India caused over 116,000 infant deaths in 2019: Study

The first-ever comprehensive analysis of air pollution's global impact on newborns finds that outdoor and household particulate matter pollution contributed to the deaths of more than 1,16,000 infants

Death of infants, poor conditions at Kota hospital spark uproar

Infant deaths are common in India, but the spike in fatalities at a state-run institution and evidence of poor hygiene, broken equipment and staff shortages has made headlines

Unhealthy politics

Kota tragedy shows why states should get priorities right

Letter to BS: Over 100 infant deaths in Kota are a national shame

It is not merely a question of poor medical facilities, inadequate medical staff and medical negligence, though all of these must be addressed on a priority basis

Death of 940 infants in year, 77 in Dec at a govt hospital rocks Kota

State Health Secretary Galriya detected a slew of systematic and infrastructural deficiencies plaguing the hospital.

Curbing infant mortality rates using innovation

Deaths in children under the age of five will be identified and studied using a mixture of approaches. A seven-country surveillance system has been developed

3 infants die every 2 minutes in India; 8 mn premature deaths in 2017: UN

According to the report, an estimated 6.3 million children aged below 15 died in 2017

UP has the worst record for infant and under-five mortality rate in India

UP spends Rs 452 per capita on health, 70% less than Indian average

India reduces baby deaths but still hasn't met 2012 targets

Overall improvement in IMR over a quarter century is likely linked to a variety of government interventions