Karnataka's infant mortality rate sees over 50% drop since 2010-12

Bengaluru: Karnataka’s Infant mortality rate (IMR) has fallen two points from 17 in 2021 to 15 in 2022, according to the Sample Registration System bulletin released last week. 

Infant mortality rate (IMR) is the number of deaths of infants under the age of one per 1,000 live births.

In Karnataka, the IMR has seen a 50.4 per cent drop in 2020-22 compared to the previous decade, coming down to an average of 17.3 from 34.9 in 2010-12. Urban and Rural areas in Karnataka have seen a similar development, seeing nearly a 50 per cent fall. Doctors attribute this to better healthcare management and improved neonatal care in the state.

Dr Rajath Athreya, lead neonatologist and senior consultant in a private hospital in Bengaluru, said that both government and private facilities have contributed to this. 

“Over the past few years, institutional deliveries and safe delivery practices have gone up. Many government facilities have been upgraded, and Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU) have been set up. Technology and infrastructure have also improved,” he said.

Major causes of infant mortality, which are infection, premature births, and congenital defects, are still challenges, he said. “Deaths are coming down by controlling infections and providing better care to premature babies. Access to private facilities has improved in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, and vaccination coverage has also improved,” he added.

Reducing regional disparity

He noted that areas of improvement must be in reducing regional disparity in the state, improving human resources and infrastructure by replicating what has been done in districts and states that are doing better, and fully utilising available funds.  

Newborn mortality is the biggest concern, said Dr Suman Rao, HoD, neonatology at a private hospital in Bengaluru, which is also partnering with the government to achieve a goal of single-digit newborn mortality by 2030. 

Neonatal mortality rate, which is the number of babies dying within 28 days of birth, is a major concern. India’s neonatal mortality rate, stood at 19 in 2021, whereas Karnataka’s NMR stood at 13. The following year, India’s NMR remained 19 while K’taka’s came down to 12.

Kangaroo mother care

She noted that Kangaroo mother care is working well in the state and an overall improvement in quality of care has reduced infection rates.

“We need to improve administering antenatal corticosteroids for women with preterm pregnancies at the right time so babies have a better chance of survival. Care given to newborn babies at birth needs to improve. We are aiming to have at least one person in every birthing facility trained in basic newborn resuscitation,” Dr Rao said.