21-point drop in Odisha’s IMR within a decade: SRS report

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has registered a sharp decline in infant mortality rate (IMR) over the past decade, according to the latest sample registration system (SRS) statistical report 2024 released by the office of the registrar-general of India.

The state’s overall IMR dropped from 49 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 28 in 2024, a decline of 21 points, reflecting a significant improvement in maternal and child healthcare indicators over the decade. However, the IMR of 28 still remains higher than the national average of 24.

“In rural Odisha, where childbirths were largely taking place at homes and access to neonatal care was limited decades back, institutional deliveries, ambulance services and vaccination drives have gradually improved infant survival rates,” said an official of National Health Mission, Odisha.

Today, as per the Health Management Information System of National Health Mission, the institutional delivery rate of Odisha stands at over 97%. This rate was 72% in 2014 and around 28% in 2004.

The report also showed that female infants in the state continue to face slightly higher mortality risks than boys. The female IMR stood at 29 compared to 28 for male infants.

But if compared with other larger states in the country, Odisha recorded one of the highest female IMRs. Chhattisgarh reported the worst female IMR at 38, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh at 35 each, while Odisha stood at 29 alongside Assam. In contrast, Kerala reported a female IMR of just nine, while Tamil Nadu recorded 10.

The rural-urban divide in the state has also remained stark. Rural Odisha recorded an IMR of 30, compared to 21 in urban areas, against 29 for males, suggesting persistent healthcare and nutrition challenges in the countryside, the report stated. In urban Odisha, the IMR for both male and female infants was recorded at 21, showing relatively balanced outcomes in towns and cities.

A decade ago, the situation was considerably worse. In 2014, the state’s overall IMR stood at 49 (when the country average was 39), while female IMR was as high as 51. Rural female IMR then touched 53 deaths per 1,000 live births, among the highest in the country.

“Today, there is greater awareness among mothers, and the outreach by ASHA and anganwadi workers has improved significantly, contributing to the progress. Besides, more women opting for institutional deliveries, the govt has consistently invested in better pregnancy and neonatal care, including special newborn care units,” said former public health director Niranjan Mishra.

He added that the report indicates that there is not much gap between female and male IMR in rural areas of the state. Apart from care during and after delivery, antenatal check-ups to detect growth retardation and high-risk pregnancies, and proper maternal nutrition remain key determinants of infant mortality.

“In rural areas, nutrition often remains a concern for pregnant women. But one of the most critical issues that needs to be addressed is the shortage of paediatricians in the state, particularly in rural areas,” Mishra added.