Programmatic Factors affecting Infant and Child Mortality in Madhya Pradesh: Issues and Challenges

Abstract

Madhya Pradesh is one of the poor performing states in terms of reduction in IMR over time. The decline in IMR of Madhya Pradesh has come down 22 points (28.95%) since 2005. As per the SRS report 2013, NMR of Madhya Pradesh was 8 points above the national level. Still half of the Under5 deaths are taking place after neonatal period and about 22% child deaths are taking place after infancy. In this study, two districts namely Indore as better performing and Shivpuri as poor performing were randomly selected to collect primary as well as secondary data regarding programmatic factors affecting infant and child mortality in Madhya Pradesh. It was found that despite of targeted child health interventions under NRHM in districts, due to large gap between normative and existing level of health facilities in socioeconomically lagging district of Shivpuri, 23 child health indicators are poor. Government need to create SNCUs at least CHC level to address most serious causes of deaths like low birth weight, asphyxia, congenital abnormalities etc and arrange Mobile Health Clinics for tribal and far away areas.