BANGALORE: Taking note of recent reports in Express over the spurt in infant mortality rate (IMR) in Gulbarga, the state government has made concerted efforts to reduce IMR.
But with Karnataka ranking second in terms of IMR in south India, it is not just Gulbarga or a few other districts, but the state as a whole that is not doing well.
According to statistics released by the Census of India’s Sample Registration System for 2011-12, Karnataka has an IMR of 32 (the number of infants dying within one year in a sample of 1,000 live births).
In south India, Andhra Pradesh tops the list with an IMR of 41. Karnataka is followed by Tamil Nadu with an IMR of 21 and Kerala with 12, which is the second-lowest in the country after Goa, with an IMR of 10.
According to experts, an IMR of 32 roughly translates to 3,000 children dying before their first birthday every month in Karnataka.
Prasoon Sen of UNICEF said while there are many government initiatives, their focus should be different. “Our studies show that 72 per cent of the deaths take place in the first four weeks of the child’s birth (neonatal deaths). It is very essential that infant deaths in the first four weeks are arrested. IMR increases due to this number,” he said.
When it comes to neonatal deaths in the state, Dharwad district with a population of around 12 lakhs recorded the highest number from March 2013-April 2014, with 876 fatalities. Belgaum district followed second with 724 deaths. There were 702 fatalities in Raichur, followed by 657 in Gulbarga and 514 in Bijapur.
The government has started several programmes to reduce IMR, like the Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses in 14 districts. It also runs 994 round-the-clock neonatal care corners, newborn stabilisation units at 188 taluk hospitals, special neonatal care units at 33 district hospitals, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram in all government schools and monthly infant death audit meetings in all districts.
However, it seems these programmes and schemes have not had a major impact on arresting IMR.
According to the Economic Survey of Karnataka 2013-14, the state’s IMR of 32 is far higher than the eleventh five-year plan target of 24, set for the year 2012.
When contacted, Director, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Geetha Nyamagoudar, said the state has a long way to go in terms of achieving a healthy IMR. She said literacy has a major role to play in checking IMR.
“Kerala, for instance, has a very high literacy rate, which makes a major difference. North Karnataka districts have a low literacy level because of which pregnant mothers do not seek timely medical treatment, which in turn increases IMR. It is a continuous process, and we are confident of reducing IMR by a few notches by next year,” she said.