1 . Neo Natal Mortality Rate

• Number of deaths of Children below the age of 1 month per 1000 live births

• Neo Natal Mortality   depend upon Mother’s health 
  • Main cause of mortality during first month is different from next 11 months. It depends on in Utero Nutrition which is determined by Birth Weight of Children

• India has high Neo Natal Mortality because
  • Indian women begin pregnancy at low weight . Along with that, they don’t gain weight during pregnancy => Result in low birth weight of child

2. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

• Number of deaths of Children below the age of 1 year per 1000 live births

According to NFHS 4, IMR of India =

41

• Note : IMR is an important indicator used for determining the socio-economic status of any country because more than any age group, survival of infants depends upon their socio-economic environment.

3. Child Mortality Rate (CMR)

• Number of deaths of Children in age group of 0-4 year per 1000 live births

4. Under Five Mortality Rate (U5MR)

• Number of deaths of Children in age group of 0-5 year per 1000 live births
  • According to NFHS 4, U5MR of India is  50
  • SDG Target to be achieved by India  = 25

• U5MR is internationally accepted standard instead of Child Mortality Rate. Hence, India moving towards it.

5. Maternal Mortality Rate

• Death of mothers during or within 42 days of child birth per 1 lakh live births
• According to NFHS 4, Maternal Mortality Rate of India is 130

1 . Pradhan Mantri Suraksheet Matritva Yojana

• By Health Ministry in 2016
• Ante – Natal (before birth) checkup for pregnant women on 9th of every month by specialist

2. Janani Suraksha Yojana

• To promote Institutional delivery of the pregnant women.

3. LaQshya Program

• Under Health Ministry since 2018
• For Labour Room upgradations 

4. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

• ₹ 6,000 to be given to all mothers
• To be given in Installments (6th Month pregnancy || 3 months after birth || 6 months after birth)
• Applicable for  first  two  children.

5. Integrated Child Development Program

• Flagship  scheme – aims to improve nutrition ,  health status & school dropout ratio of children in age group 0-6 years 
• 2016-17 : Other schemes like Anganwadi Services, National Crèche Scheme  brought under this

6. Promotion of Breast Feeding

• Improving Infant and young child feeding practices including breastfeeding promotion.

7. To Combat Diseases among Pregnant Women & infants

• Anaemia : Major problem in Pregnant women.  Iron Folic Acid Supplements are given by government
• Diarrhoea : Large number of infants die because of this . ORS and Zinc Tablets are given

Unique source of early life disease in India is open defecation

How Open Defecation impact health of child ?

• Open defecation spreads germs into the environment, and therefore makes growing children sick.  It can cause
  • Diarrhea: robbing growing children of food that they eat. 
  • Environmental enteropathy : chronic inflammation of the intestines => reduces ability of children’s intestines to absorb nutrients
• Problem of child stunting is worse in villages where a higher percentage defecate in the open.

Level of Problem

• Open defecation in India is much more common than even much poorer countries.
  • Bangladesh = Almost open defecation free
  • In 2015 , according to WHO : 61% of rural Indians defecate in open (2018 after Swachh BM : 90% Rural India now has laterine)

Behavior Issue

• Many people in rural India who live in households with working latrines defecate in the open. 

=> These facts indicate that income constraints may not be the main determinant of open defecation.

Addressing Open Defecation

• Swachh Bharat Mission
• UN’s Sustainable Development Goals commit to ending open defecation worldwide by 2030.  
• Behavioural change using ads & religious leaders