The southern Indian state of Kerala has achieved an infant mortality rate (IMR) of five deaths per 1,000 live births, outperforming the United States, where the rate stands at 5.6, according to a new government report.
Kerala's IMR is significantly lower than the Indian national average of 25 deaths per 1,000 births, making it the best-performing state in the country. The state also recorded India's lowest birth rate at 10.8 per cent. In contrast, the highest IMRs were found in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, each at 37.
Among southern Indian states, Tamil Nadu reported an IMR of 12, followed by Karnataka (14), Telangana (18), and Andhra Pradesh (19). Kerala was the only major state to achieve parity between rural and urban areas, while the all-India averages stood at 28 in rural regions and 19 in urban.
Kerala's health minister, Veena George, attributed the milestone to consistent health services across rural and urban areas, stating that the state's rate is now lower than that of many developed countries. The state government credited a decade-long reform programme, including mandatory infant death audits, clinical protocols, and expanded antenatal and neonatal care, for the steady decline from an IMR of 12 in 2010 to 5 last year.
Key initiatives include the Hridyam project, which reduced infant deaths from congenital heart disease by 41 per cent, and the universal newborn screening programme. Hospitals have been upgraded with LaQshya and MusQan accreditations, and free transport for mothers and newborns is provided through the Mathruyanam project. The state also focuses on nutrition and mental health in the first 1,000 days of a child's development.
