Over 70,000 infants in Rajasthan died during the last five years

JAIPUR: The incident of deaths of infants in Jaisalmer and Jhunjhunu due to negligence in one month has brought shame, but it seems that it is the tip of the iceberg. There are over 70,000 deaths of infants registered in five years enough to prove that there is need for sensitivity towards infant and maternal care.

Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), Rajasthan branch claimed that the number of infant deaths actually happened in five years are actually much more than the registered infant deaths.

Since Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in the state was higher than 41 deaths per 1,000 live births from 2012 to 2016 and the live births were higher than 16lakh every year, the number of infant deaths are much higher than 70,000.

The IAP claimed that there is need for improvement in registration of infants’ deaths actually happening.

“Infant deaths can be checked by intensifying fight against malnutrition, diarrhoea, hypothermia, asphyxia and improving vaccination coverage. Since health of an infant is associated with health of mother, there is need for improving maternal care by dealing with anaemia,” said Dr Tarun Patni, president of IAP, Rajasthan branch.

According to the Vital Statics of India based on the Civil Registration System (CRS) 2016 released recently, shows that 12,004 infants deaths were registered in 2016. From 2012 to 2016, the CRS shows that 70,537 infants deaths were registered during five years.

However, more deaths of infant males in comparison to infant females is registered during five years (2012-2016). In the same period, 40,221 male infant deaths were registered against 30,316 female infants’ deaths.

The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) 2015-16 showed that IMR was 41 per 1,000 live births. In past 10 years, the slow progress in reducing IMR has become a major challenge. NFHS-3 (2005-06) shows that the IMR was 65 per 1,000 live births. In past 10 years, the IMR has reduced by only by 24 infants’ deaths per 1,000 live births.

According to State Institute of Health and Family Welfare report on child health: Rajasthan, three major causes of child mortality Infection (Sepsis, pneumonia, Diarrhea), prematurity and birth asphyxia.

Jaipur, Jodhpur and Ajmer reported highest number of registration of infants’ deaths 2,212, 1,772 and 1,272 respectively in 2016.

However, in urban areas, more deaths of infants were registered in comparison to rural areas. In urban areas, 11,116 infant deaths were registered, while in rural areas, only 888 deaths of infants were registered.

The state government is targeting to bring down IMR to 28 per 1,000 live births by 2022 but it looks a difficult task for the health authorities.

Recently, the health department had submitted a report to Rajasthan High Court’s Jodhpur bench on infants’ deaths showing that 32,002 infants had died from the state between October 2016 and October 2017.