Rajasthan’s under-five mortality down six points
Rajasthan is second only to Uttar Pradesh, which recorded a seven point decline in under-five mortality
Rajasthan has made major gains in improving child health, recording a six point decline in under-five mortality rate from 57 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013 to 51 in 2014, a government survey has found.
Findings of the sample registration system (SRS) 2014, released earlier this month, showed that the under-five mortality rate has fallen by five points in rural areas from 63 in 2013 to 58 in 2014. In urban areas, the decline is from 32 in 2013 to 28 in 2014. The all-India figure is 45.
For Rajasthan, long plagued by poor social and health indicators, the news comes as a shot in the arm for government efforts. Rajasthan is second only to Uttar Pradesh, which recorded a seven point decline in under-five mortality.
However, neo-natal mortality (0-28 days), which is stagnant at 32, remains a worry.
Naveen Jain, the MD of National Health Mission, said the decline was a significant achievement and due to various interventions by the government over the years.
“Efforts towards community mobilisation, raising awareness of people, increasing institutional deliveries, expanding immunization, free medicines and free ambulance services have all made an impact,” said Jain.
As per the Annual Health Survey 2012-13, institutional deliveries in the state stand at 78% while the immunisation rate is 74.2%.
Dr VK Mathur, director, Reproductive and Child Health, said the main reasons for deaths in children were low birth weight, diarrhea, pneumonia, malnutrition.
“We are focusing on tackling these. We are strengthening facilities for newborn care at various levels which has helped prevent deaths.”
A total of 1,665 New Born Care Corners have been set up at delivery points which provide essential and resuscitation services and 255 New Born Stabilisation Units at Community Health Centres give primary treatment before referrals, officials said.
They said critical care was provided at the 36 Special New Born Care Units set up in district hospitals.
Buttressing the ASHA network too has played a vital role in checking not only infant mortality but maternal deaths as well, said Poonam Srivastava, consultant, child health.
ASHAs are trained health activists working in villages to create awareness on health and hygiene, monitor pregnant women and newborn children and refer them in case of any health issues. There are around 47,000 ASHAs across the state.
Srivastava said software that helps monitor online ASHAs visits to households has significantly improved their work output.
On malnutrition, another longstanding problem in Rajasthan with a prevalence of 30-40%, the government was working in a phase manner, said Dr Manoj Arora, project director, child health.
“In the first phase, 9,640 children suffering from severe acute malnourishment in 13 districts were given two months’ intensive treatment and four months’ follow-up monitoring,” said Arora. The next phase will see treatment for another 15,000 children covering 20 districts.
Concerns, however, remain. The SRS data showed that infant mortality rate (0-1 years) was down only one point from 47 to 46 in 2013. The neo-natal mortality is stagnant at 32 while early neo-natal mortality (0-7 days) has risen by one point to 26 in 2014 from 25 in 2013.
Jain, acknowledged the challenges, saying: “We have to focus more on improving our under one-year infant care.”
“To boost neo-natal care, overcoming shortage of doctors, expanding and strengthening infrastructure and pre-and post-delivery services for women and children are required,” he said.