Indian children healthier than ever

But other nations doing better, proves data

CHENNAI, 28/10/2011: New born babies in Chennai. Earth’s population will reach seven billion on 31st October 2011, a milestone that offers unprecedented challenges and opportunities to all of humanity, according to UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. India will be the second most populous country in the world next to China. China has 1,350,044,605 (1.35 billion) population. India represents almost 17.25% of the world's population. In the present phase India will take nuber one position by 2030 with a growth rate in population of 1.5% and by the end of 2030, the population would be 1.52 billion. Every year, India adds more people than any other nation in the world, and in fact the individual population of some of its States is equal to the total population of many countries. Some of the reasons for India's rapidly growing population are poverty, illiteracy, high fertility rate, rapid decline in death rates or mortality rates and immigration from Bangladesh and Nepal. Alarmed by its swelling population, India started taking measures to stem the growth rate quite early. In fact India by launching the National Family Planning programme in 1952 became the first country in the world to have a population policy. The family planning programme yielded some noticeable results, bringing down significantly the country's fertility rate. In 1965-2009, the contraceptive usage more than tripled and the fertility rate more than halved. The efforts did produce positive results, however, failed to achieve the ultimate goal and the population of India since getting independence from Britain in 1947 increased almost three times. Photo: S.R. Raghunathan 28/10/11

India’s infant mortality rate (IMR) reduced by 16 points over the last 10 years — 41 children below the age of one died per 1,000 live births, down from 57 a decade ago, according to the India fact-sheet of the National Family Health Survey 2015—16, the largest-ever assessment of the country’s health and family welfare indicators.

The survey, released after a decade reveals a 24-point reduction in under-five mortality rate: From 74 children under five dying for every 1,000 live births in 2005-06, it is now 50 — comparable to the poorer African island nation of Madagascar.

There has been similar improvement in almost all childhood health indicators, pointing to the fact that many Indian children are doing better than they ever have.

However, there is a long way to go: India’s IMR of 41 still lags other poorer neighbours, such as Bangladesh (31) and Nepal (29) and the African countries of Rwanda (31) and Botswana (35).

India’s under-five mortality (50) is substantially worse than its poorer neighbours, such as Nepal (36) and Bangladesh (38) and Bhutan (33).

Although it has reduced infant deaths by 48 per cent over 23 years, from 79 in 1992-93 to 41 in 2015-16, India is far from the 2015 millennium development goal — set in consultation with the United Nations — of an IMR of 27.

As many as 62 per cent of Indian children between the ages of 12 and 23 months were fully immunised —— for BCG, measles, and three doses each for polio and diphtheria and tetanus — up from 43.5 per cent in 2005-06.

There was also a seven-percentage-point decrease in children under five who were underweight (low weight—for—age), from 42.5 per cent in 2005—06 to 35.7 per cent in 2015—16.

Fewer children between aged 59 months to six years suffered from anaemia in 2015-16, (58.4 per cent) compared to 69.4 per cent in 2005—06.

However, the proportion of children under five who were wasted — low weight-for-height — increased from 19.8 per cent to 21 per cent. The number of severely wasted children increased from 6.4 per cent to 7.5 per cent.IANS

PLUSES

India’s infant mortality rate (IMR) reduced by 16 points over the last 10 years — 41 children below the age of one died per 1,000 live births, down from 57 a decade ago.

As many as 62 per cent of Indian children between the ages of 12 and 23 months were fully immunised —— for BCG, measles, and three doses each for polio and diphtheria and tetanus — up from 43.5 per cent in 2005-06.

MINUSES

Although it has reduced infant deaths by 48 per cent over 23 years, from 79 in 1992-93 to 41 in 2015-16, India is far from the 2015 millennium development goal — set in consultation with the United Nations — of an IMR of 27.

However, the proportion of children under five who were wasted — low weight-for-height — increased from 19.8 per cent to 21 per cent. The number of severely wasted children increased from 6.4 per cent to 7.5 per cent.