Infant mortality in an urban slum.
1Department of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|May 29, 2007
Summary
Infant mortality in urban India was high, with most deaths from perinatal issues and later from diarrhea and respiratory infections. Improved maternal care and sanitation are crucial for reducing child mortality.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Infant and child mortality rates reflect societal development but often lack local data.
- Understanding local patterns is vital for targeted public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze infant mortality patterns in a specific urban slum in Vellore, India.
- To identify key causes of neonatal and post-neonatal infant deaths.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of government health records.
- Data collected from 1995 to 2003 for an urban slum in Vellore, India.
Main Results:
- Infant mortality rate (IMR) was 37.9 per 1000 live births.
- 54.3% of deaths occurred in the neonatal period, primarily from perinatal asphyxia, prematurity, and respiratory distress.
- Post-neonatal deaths were mainly due to diarrheal diseases (43%) and respiratory infections (21%).
Conclusions:
- Enhanced antenatal and perinatal care are essential for reducing neonatal mortality.
- High rates of diarrheal deaths underscore the need for improved sanitation and water quality.
Related Concept Videos
00:57Population Growth
Population size is dynamic, increasing with birth rates and immigration, and decreasing with death rates and emigration. In ideal conditions with unlimited resources, populations can increase exponentially, which plots as a J-shaped growth rate curve of population size against time. This type of curve is characteristic of newly-introduced invasive species, or populations that have suffered catastrophic declines and are rebounding.However, realistic environmental conditions limit the number of...
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural Health Centers
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
01:22Applications of Life Tables
Life tables are versatile across various fields, providing a quantitative basis for analyzing mortality and survival rates. Whether used by demographers, actuaries, epidemiologists, or sociologists, life tables offer valuable insights into the dynamics of life and death, facilitating informed decisions in public health, insurance, conservation, and beyond. Their broad applicability highlights the interconnectedness of demographic data with practical outcomes in everyday life and strategic...
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...