Trends in perinatal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in India

Although the infant mortality rate (IMR) has reduced by 50% during the past century, it compares poorly with the advanced countries and some developing countries. The observed fall in IMR has been mostly in post-neonatal mortality, with the result that neonatal deaths now account for over 60% of all infant deaths. The overall perinatal mortality rate (PMR) in India is still over 50 per 1000 and has shown virtually no decline during the past decade, However, PMR differs widely in different states, urban/rural areas, different hospitals and so on. PMR is seen to correlate better with social development than economic development of the representative community. The causes of perinatal deaths suggest poor health of mother and poor health facilities and are hence potentially preventable. Various studies have shown that PMR can be significantly reduced within a short span of time. The registration of vital statistics continue to be highly unsatisfactory especially in rural areas.