Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is a crucial indicator of a nation’s health and socio-economic development. It reflects the quality of healthcare, nutrition, sanitation, and overall living standards. While India has made significant strides in reducing IMR over the decades, it remains a public health challenge, particularly in rural areas and among marginalized communities. According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) data, India’s IMR has declined from 44 per 1,000 live births in 2011 to 28.7 per 1,000 live births in 2020. However, disparities persist, necessitating a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach to further reduce this rate.
(i) Definition of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)
The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is defined as the number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000 live births in a given year. It is a key measure of the level of health in a country and is often used to assess the effectiveness of public health interventions.
(ii) Major Causes of IMR in India
The causes of IMR in India are multifaceted and can be broadly categorized as follows:
- Maternal Factors: These include maternal age (very young or older mothers), maternal health status (anemia, malnutrition, infections), lack of adequate antenatal care, and complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
- Neonatal Factors: These are the leading causes of IMR and include prematurity, low birth weight, birth asphyxia (lack of oxygen at birth), neonatal sepsis (infection), and congenital anomalies.
- Infectious Diseases: Pneumonia, diarrhea, and measles are major contributors to infant mortality, particularly in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to healthcare.
- Nutritional Deficiencies: Malnutrition, both in mothers and infants, weakens the immune system and increases susceptibility to infections.
- Socioeconomic Factors: Poverty, lack of education (especially among women), poor access to healthcare facilities, and inadequate sanitation contribute significantly to IMR.
- Environmental Factors: Lack of access to clean water, poor sanitation, and indoor air pollution (from cooking with biomass fuels) increase the risk of infections.
The following table illustrates the contribution of different factors to IMR in India (data as of 2017-18, based on National Family Health Survey-4):
| Cause | Percentage Contribution to IMR |
|---|---|
| Preterm Birth & Low Birth Weight | 30-35% |
| Pneumonia | 15-20% |
| Diarrheal Diseases | 10-15% |
| Birth Asphyxia & Trauma | 10-12% |
| Congenital Anomalies | 5-7% |
| Neonatal Sepsis | 8-10% |
| Other Causes | Remaining Percentage |
(iii) Key Steps to Bring Down IMR in India
Reducing IMR requires a comprehensive and integrated approach focusing on the following key steps:
- Strengthening Antenatal Care: Ensuring access to quality antenatal care, including regular check-ups, iron and folic acid supplementation, and screening for high-risk pregnancies.
- Improving Institutional Deliveries: Promoting institutional deliveries (hospitals and health centers) with skilled birth attendants to manage complications during childbirth. The Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) scheme plays a vital role here.
- Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs): Establishing and strengthening NICUs in district hospitals and medical colleges to provide specialized care for premature and sick newborns.
- Promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding: Encouraging exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, as breast milk provides essential nutrients and antibodies.
- Immunization: Ensuring complete immunization coverage for all infants against preventable diseases like polio, measles, and diphtheria.
- Improving Sanitation and Hygiene: Promoting access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene practices to reduce the risk of infections.
- Addressing Malnutrition: Implementing nutrition programs to address malnutrition among mothers and infants, including supplementary feeding programs and micronutrient supplementation.
- Community Mobilization: Engaging community health workers (ASHAs) and local leaders to raise awareness about maternal and child health and promote healthy behaviors.
- Strengthening Health Infrastructure: Investing in strengthening the primary healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, to ensure access to essential healthcare services.
Conclusion
Reducing Infant Mortality Rate in India is a complex but achievable goal. By addressing the underlying causes – maternal health, neonatal care, infectious diseases, and socioeconomic factors – through a comprehensive and integrated approach, India can further improve its IMR and ensure a healthier future for its children. Continued investment in healthcare infrastructure, community mobilization, and targeted interventions are crucial for achieving sustainable progress. The focus should be on equitable access to quality healthcare services for all, irrespective of their socioeconomic status or geographical location.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.