Kerala Has India's Lowest Infant Mortality Rate at Five Per 1,000 Live Births
Mumbai: Kerala has achieved a remarkable milestone in public health, recording an infant mortality rate (IMR) of five per 1,000 live births in 2023, according to the latest Sample Registration Survey (SRS).
This figure, five times lower than India’s national average of 25, surpasses even the US's IMR of 5.6 per the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Kerala stands alone as India’s only larger state with a single-digit IMR, with no rural-urban disparity. The state has seen a steady improvement since 2018 with an IMR of 7. It further reduced to 6 in 2019.
Responding to the study, Kerala health minister Veena George took to social media, where she wrote that the state is “proud” to have recorded the lowest infant mortality rate in the country.
“There is a huge gap in infant mortality rates between the rural and urban areas of the country. The report clarifies that the average in the country is 28 in rural areas and 19 in urban areas. But in Kerala, the rate was equally reduced in both regions. There is no difference between rural and urban rates in Kerala. This is also proof that the same health services [a reference to healthcare accessibility] are available to the people regardless of rural and urban differences,” she wrote.
The state’s success stems from a systematic approach initiated in 2010, when the IMR stagnated at 12. The Hindu points to a 2013 study by the Indian Academy of Paediatrics that had revealed that 75% of infant deaths occurred in the neonatal period, with 59% within the first week. Prematurity (35%) and congenital heart diseases (28%) were major causes.
To address these, Kerala implemented rigorous infant death audits, established clinical guidelines and enhanced antenatal and neonatal care. Investments in delivery points, neonatal ICUs and newborn care nurseries, coupled with regular training for obstetricians and nurses, proved transformative.
Sixteen public hospitals in Kerala have earned LaQshya national accreditation, and six have secured MusQan certification for high-quality, child-friendly services. The LaQshya national accreditation and MusQan certification are flagship quality improvement programs launched by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under the National Health Mission. Both aim to enhance healthcare standards in public facilities, focusing on maternal and child health to reduce preventable deaths and morbidity.
According to news reports, Kerala’s comprehensive newborn screening program has successfully managed to detect visible birth defects, congenital issues and sensory impairments.
The flagship Hridyam program that was launched in 2017 as a public-private initiative significantly reduced congenital heart disease-related deaths by 41% in its first two years, contributing to a 21% overall drop in infant mortality. To date, Hridyam has treated 8,450 infants.
The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
