Raj equals nat'l avg in neonatal mortality rate
Jaipur: In a significant achievement, Rajasthan's early neonatal mortality rate (ENMR) matched the national average for the first time, according to the Sample Registration System (SRS) data for 2022 released this month.
The state's ENMR has decreased to 14 deaths per 1,000 live births, aligning with the national figure.
The latest data highlights substantial improvements in various mortality indicators, including a notable reduction in the under-5 mortality rate (U5MR) from 39 in 2021 to 35 in 2022. "The decline of four points in U5MR is significant," said a senior health department official.
However, the persistent gap between rural and urban infant mortality rates (IMR) remains a concern.
Rural areas recorded 31 infant deaths per 1,000 live births compared to 24 in urban areas. Despite this disparity, there has been progress - the rural-urban IMR gap has narrowed from 14 points in 2019 to 7 points in 2022.
The health department attributes the challenges in rural areas to geographical constraints, including desert terrain and mountainous regions, which complicate access to healthcare facilities.
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To address these challenges, the state has implemented various initiatives, including establishing sick newborn care units and neonatal ICUs. In rural areas, ASHA workers conduct door-to-door visits to monitor infant health and facilitate timely medical intervention when needed.
The improvements reflect the state's concentrated efforts to enhance maternal and child healthcare, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. However, the data suggests that additional measures for disease screening and treatment are still needed to further reduce the rural-urban healthcare disparity.
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