Karnataka’s infant mortality rate falls by one point: SRS 2023

Highlighting improved health indicators in Karnataka, the State’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) fell from 15 in 2022 to 14 in 2023, according to the Sample Registration Survey (SRS), 2023, released this week by the Office of the Registrar-General of India.

IMR is defined as infant (less than one year) deaths per thousand live births in a given time period and for a given region. 

Karnataka’s IMR has seen a reduction of 21 points since 2011. From 35 in 2011, the State successfully reduced the IMR to 24 in 2016. Although this vital parameter again went up and touched 25 in 2017, it has fallen by two points every year since then, touching 19 in 2020 and 14 in 2023.

However, a matter of concern is that rural areas continue to report a higher number of infant deaths compared to urban areas. Also, the death rate is high in female babies. While 16 female infant deaths per thousand live births were reported in rural areas in Karnataka in 2023, the rate is 14 in urban areas.

Better than national average

Karnataka’s IMR is far better than the national average that dropped to 25 in 2023 from 26 in 2022. In the last 10 years, the national IMR has witnessed a decline of about 37.5% from 40 to 25 in the last decade. The corresponding decline in rural areas is 44 to 28, and for urban areas it is from 27 to 18, thereby exhibiting about 36% and 33% decadal decline, respectively.

Despite the decline in IMR over the last decades, one in every 40 infants die within the first year of their life at the national level (irrespective of rural-urban), stated the SRS bulletin.

Death audits

Basavaraj B. Dhabadi, State Deputy Director (Child Health), said: “We have noted that substantially improving the community and facility based services has helped a lot. Besides, we are regularly conducting death audits and the causes are being addressed,” the official said.

He said infectious diseases, including pneumonia, diarrhoea and hypothermia, have come down drastically due to general hygiene measures, awareness and education of mothers by ASHAs.

However, preterm birth complications, birth asphyxia and low birth weight apart from congenital anomalies are challenges that need to be addressed continuously, Dr. Dabadi said, adding that community participation is most important.