Mapping neonatal mortality in India: A closer look

Abstract

Introduction:Fifty-three percent of Indian under-5 deaths occur during the neonatal age group. Recognizing that there is a lack of illustrated district-level data on neonatal mortality in India, we mapped this to visually highlight districts where neonatal health issues require the most attention.Methods:District-level estimates of 596 Indian districts were used to generate maps and to illustrate neonatal mortality rates (NMRs), absolute numbers of neonatal deaths; the best and worst performing districts (positive and negative deviants) in each Indian state; the neonatal female/male death ratio; and district lag in NMR reductions.Results:The NMR ranged from 4.3 (Kannur, Kerala) to 65.1 (Datia, Madhya Pradesh), with the mean NMR being 29.8. Almost two-thirds of the districts (n = 380, 63.7%) had NMRs between 20 and 40. The top third of neonatal deaths could be accounted for by just 71 districts of a total of 596.Conclusion:There is an urgent need for up-to-date data on district-level neonatal mortality in India.

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“…Bihar has a neonatal mortality rate and maternal mortality ratio of 27 per 1000 and 165 per 100,000 live births, respectively [ 1 ]. Despite having less than 10% of the population in the country, Bihar accounts for 15% of neonatal deaths [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Primary health centers (PHCs) are the location for births for the over 44 million women residing in rural areas.…”

Barriers to practice of critical newborn care behaviours: findings from a qualitative assessment in rural Madhya Pradesh, India

“…3 With 47 infant deaths and 36 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births, the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has the highest infant and neonatal mortality burden in the country, as well as the highest neonatal mortality rate in the world. [4][5][6] Of every 10 infant deaths in Madhya Pradesh, seven are neonates. 6 Neonatal mortality is associated with poor quality of care around childbirth and conditions including preterm and intrapartum-related complications, sepsis, pneumonia, tetanus, diarrhoea, that are preventable with cost-effective interventions.…”

“…[4][5][6] Of every 10 infant deaths in Madhya Pradesh, seven are neonates. 6 Neonatal mortality is associated with poor quality of care around childbirth and conditions including preterm and intrapartum-related complications, sepsis, pneumonia, tetanus, diarrhoea, that are preventable with cost-effective interventions. 3 The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends four essential newborn care practices of cord care, thermal care, skin-to-skin care, and early initiation of breastfeeding to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality.…”

Newer Perspective in Neonatology—Need for Updating

“…Neonatal mortality accounts for 53% of under-five mortality in India. Although mortality among infants before 28 d of life has reduced from 38 in 2000 to 23.5 per 1000 live births in 2017, it still accounts for 20% of global deaths in this age group [1,2].…”