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As per the latest ‘Sample Registration Survey Report’ released some time back by the Census Office at New Delhi, there has been a significant improvement in the ‘Infant Mortality Rate’ per 1000 live births in India during the period 1999 – 2009. What has been the percentage change during this period?
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- 15%
- 29%
- 35%
- 42%
- 15%
Correct Option: C
India’s neonatal mortality rate (NMR) in 1990 (deaths per 1,000 live births) was 49. In absolute numbers, the nation recorded 13.49 neonatal deaths. In 2009, the neonatal mortality rate stood at 34, which worked out to 9.07 lakhs. Newborn deaths dropped from 4.6 million to 3.3 million between 1990 and 2009. But while the newborn mortality rate dropped 28% during that period, it lagged progress on maternal mortality (34% reduction) and mortality of older children (37% reduction for children between 1 month and 5 years). Consequently, the share of child deaths that occurred in the newborn period (the first four weeks of life) rose from an already high 37% to 41% and is likely to be on the rise.
