Kerala Achieves Record Low Infant Mortality Rate of 5

Speedy Summary

• Kerala’s Achievement: Kerala has achieved an all-time low Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of 5 per 1,000 live births, considerably lower than India’s national average of 25.
• IMR Comparison: The State’s IMR is now even lower than the United States’ figure of 5.6.Kerala is the only Indian state with a single-digit IMR and has no urban-rural divide.
• Health Milestones:

– Kerala reached a single-digit IMR in 2018 (7), maintained it at 6 in 2019, and further reduced it to 5 by addressing neonatal mortality causes.
– Key factors included prematurity (35%), congenital heart diseases (28%), with most infant deaths occurring during the neonatal period.

• Systematic Initiatives: Improvements resulted from systematic investments:

– Infant death audits and clinical guidelines for antenatal/neonatal care.
– Enhanced public hospital facilities including accredited care under LaQshya and MusQan certifications.
– Neonatal ICUs and newborn care nurseries expansion paired with training for health professionals.

• Flagship Programmes:

– Newborn screening programmes tackle congenital issues proactively.
– ‘Hridyam,’ launched in 2017 as a public-private initiative, reduced infant deaths significantly by detecting/treating congenital heart anomalies.

Indian Opinion Analysis

Kerala’s success in reducing its Infant Mortality Rate to record lows reflects effective systemic interventions tailored to address specific health challenges like prematurity and congenital disorders. The emphasis on quality standards across hospitals, accreditation programs, alongside initiatives like ‘Hridyam’ demonstrates an integrated model prioritizing preventive healthcare over reactive measures.

As India grapples with higher national averages for IMR, Kerala offers a replicable framework that other states could consider adopting to improve maternal-neonatal outcomes nationwide. Addressing structural deficiencies such as rural healthcare disparities-absent in Kerala-might also help bridge gaps elsewhere. This milestone cements Kerala’s position as a leader in public health innovation within India.

Read more: The Hindu