Child Mortality Rate in India

Child Mortality Rate in India has shown improvement over the years and has reduced to 41.9(NFHS-5) deaths per thousand live births from 49.7 (NFHS-4). Child mortality rate or under-five mortality rate is defined as the mortality of children under the age of five per 1,000 live births. It is an important indicator of the health and development of a country.

Various causes of child mortality rate include diseases, malnutrition, and poor healthcare infrastructure. Government initiatives like Poshan Abhiyan, Improving sanitation, access to clean drinking water, and immunization against infectious diseases, can help reduce high rates of infant mortality can provide a better and healthier future for the child.

What is Child Mortality Rate?

Child mortality rate is defined as the number of deaths of children under five years of age per 1,000 live births in a given population for a given year. The reduction of child mortality is reflected in several of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.  India has one of the highest infant mortality rates globally compared to other countries. There is a significant gap between the rural and urban population. It is an important demographic and health indicator that assesses the healthcare facilities and well-being of a population. A high mortality rate is an indicator of poor health infrastructure, lack of nutrition, and poor sanitation while a low mortality rate signifies better health outcomes. Child mortality rate includes:

• Neonatal Mortality Rate: This is defined as the death before 28 days from birth.
• Infant Mortality Rate: This is defined as the death of an infant before his or her first birthday.

Child Mortality Rate in India 2023

The child Mortality rate in India is improving and we are moving towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets by 2030. On September 2022 the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report, 2020 was released and India’s Child Mortality Rate was 32, and Infant and Neonatal Mortality Rates were 28 and 20 respectively.

• 11 States/UTs have already attained the SDGs target of U5MR (<=25 by 2030). These states include Kerala (8), Tamil Nadu (13), Delhi (14), Maharashtra (18), J&K (17), Karnataka(21), Punjab (22), West Bengal (22), Telangana (23), Gujarat (24), and Himachal Pradesh (24).
• Six states have already attained the SDG target of Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) NMR( <=12 by 2030). These states include Kerala (4), Delhi (9), Tamil Nadu (9), Maharashtra (11), Jammu and Kashmir (12), and Punjab (12).
• The neonatal mortality rate decreased by 2 points from 22 per 1,000 live births in 2019 to 20 per 1,000 live births in 2020.
• Kerala (6) had the lowest IMR while Madhya Pradesh (43) had the highest.
• The child mortality rate for females (33) is higher than males (31).
• The rural-urban divide has reduced to 12 points (urban-19, rural-31).

Causes of Child Mortality Rate

Child mortality, or the death of children under the age of five is caused due to number of factors including social, economic, health conditions. Some of the causes are discussed below.

• Diseases: Neonatal cause(53%) and various diseases like pneumonia(15%), diarrhea(12%), measles(3%), are leading causes of child mortality. The problem is more severe in areas with poor health infrastructure.
• Malnutrition: Deficiencies of nutrients like vitamins and minerals, reduces resistance to infections and makes children more susceptible to disease and infections.
• Pre mature Birth and Low Birth Weight: Premature born babies and babies with low birth weight are at a higher risk of mortality and morbidity.
• Lack of Education and awarness: Education of parents education is linked to child health. Lack of awarness and education can lead to delayed healthcare seeking, poor healthcare practice and limited awareness of preventive measures.
• Lack of Access to Healthcare: Limited healthcare facilities, especially in rural or remote areas, can result in delayed or insufficient medical service.
• Poor Maternal Health: The health of the mother during pregnancy and after childbirth have significant impact on child survival.
• Unsafe Water and Sanitation: Contaminated water and inadequate sanitation contribute to the spread of waterborne diseases, like typhoid, cholera and affects the child health.
• Limited Immunization: Incomplete or delayed vaccinations expose children to preventable diseases, increasing the risk of severe illness and mortality.
• Poverty and Socioeconomic Factors: Families within low income group finds it difficult to afford health facailties, and proper nutrition all of which are important for well being of child.

Government Initiatives towards Child Mortality Rate

The Government of India started various programmes to address nutrition, maternal and child health and food security. Some of the initiative of the governement are discussed below.

POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission)

It was launched to achieve a “Malnutrition Free India” by 2022. It aims to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers through targeted interventions and awareness campaigns.

Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyan

Started in 2018, the mission aims to accelerate the annual decline of anemia rates by three percentage points, addressing a critical health issue, especially among women and children.

National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013

Enacted to ensure food and nutrition security for vulnerable populations, NFSA provides a legal right to access food through associated schemes and programs, playing a pivotal role in alleviating hunger and malnutrition.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

Focused on maternal health, PMMVY involves transferring Rs.6,000 directly to the bank accounts of pregnant women. This financial support is intended to enhance facilities for a safe and healthy delivery.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme

Launched in 1975, ICDS is a comprehensive program providing essential services such as food, preschool education, healthcare, immunization, and health check-ups to children under 6 years and their mothers.

Eat Right India and Fit India Movement

These initiatives promote healthy eating habits and an active lifestyle. Eat Right India emphasizes safe and nutritious food practices, while the Fit India Movement encourages physical fitness and wellness.

Steps to Reduce Child Mortality Rate

The various step that can be taken to further reduce child mortality rate are as follows:

• Improved Healthcare Facilities: Strengthen healthcare infrastructure, especially in rural and remote areas, ensuring accessible and quality healthcare for all children.
• Education and awarness: Increase awarness about the importnace of the early diagnosis and timely intervention among people.
• Capacity builiding of health care provider: Training of doctors ,nurses and ANM for early diagnosis and management of common ailments in children.
• Improving Maternal Health: Implement and expand programs that focus on improving maternal health, like skilled care at birth, postnatal care for the mother and the baby.
• Managment of Malnutrition: More Nutritional Rehabilitation centre can be opened and nutritional counselling of mothers can be done.
• Intensification of Routine Immunisation: Expand and strengthen immunization programs to increase coverage and protect children from preventable diseases, reducing the overall burden of child mortality.
• Integrated Approach: Better coordination, integration and cooperation between different sectors including private sector, NGOs and government.

Conclusion

With the aid of various government initiatives, India has witnessed an improvement in the child mortality rate from 49.7 to 41.9. Not only does it indicate the development of India, but it also appreciates the initiatives taken in the health sector. Check out the above article to find out complete information on the child mortality rate in India.

MCQ Questions on Child Mortality Rate in India For UPSC Exam

Question 1: What is the leading cause of child mortality in India?

a) Accidents

b) Infectious diseases

c) Genetic disorders

d) Malnutrition

Answer: b) Infectious diseases

Question 2: What age group faces the highest risk of mortality in India?

a) 0-5 years

b) 6-10 years

c) 11-15 years

d) 16-18 years

Answer: a) 0-5 years

Question 3: Which factor has contributed significantly to the reduction of child mortality in recent years?

a) Improved sanitation

b) Increased poverty

c) Climate change

d) Political instability

Answer: a) Improved sanitation

Question 4: What role does malnutrition play in child mortality in India?

a) Minor contributor

b) Major contributor

c) Not significant

d) Variable impact

Answer: b) Major contributor

Question 5: In which region of India is child mortality rate typically lower?

a) Northern India

b) Southern India

c) Eastern India

d) Western India

Answer: b) Southern India

Question 6: What is a key factor in addressing child mortality in rural areas?

a) Advanced technology

b) Robust healthcare policies

c) Education and awareness

d) Industrialization

Answer: c) Education and awareness

Question 7: How does gender impact child mortality rates in India?

a) No significant difference

b) Higher for males

c) Higher for females

d) Varies across regions

Answer: b) Higher for males

Question 8: What governmental initiative focuses on reducing child mortality in India?

a) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

b) Make in India

c) Digital India

d) Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

Answer: a) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

FAQs on Child Mortality Rate in India

1. What are the top 5 causes of child mortality?

The causes of child mortality includes Pneumonia, Diarrheal Diseases, Malaria, Preterm Birth Complications and Birth Asphyxia and Trauma.

2. What is Child Mortality Rate?

Child mortality rate is defined the number of deaths among children under the age of five per 1,000 live births in a given population within a specific period, usually a year.

3. What are the ways to decrease child mortality rate in India?

Various ways through which child mortality can be reduced are better health facilities, capacity builiding of the healthcare providers, clean water and sanitation, following integrated approach and better policy implementation.

4. Why is Child Mortality Rate important?

Child Mortality rate is an important indicator of health and development of a country. It helps to identify the areas that need improvement and measures the progress.

5. What is the child mortality rate in India as per NFHS 5?

Child mortality rate in India as per NFHS 5 has reduced from from 78% to 60%. The current infant mortality rate for India in 2023 is 26.619 deaths per 1000 live births, a 3.89% decline from 2022.

6. What is child mortality rate formula?

The Child Mortality Rate (CMR) is calculated by dividing the number of deaths of children under five years of age by the number of live births during a specific period, multiplied by 1,000. The formula is CMR = (Number of Child Deaths / Number of Live Births) * 1,000.