Odisha Ranks Better Than National Average In Combating Infant Mortality Menace

Odisha Ranks Better Than National Average In Combating Infant Mortality Menace

Bhubaneswar, October 18: According to the Odisha State Report (2015-16) of National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), which was released on Tuesday, the infant mortality rate in Odisha has decreased whereas full immunisation coverage has increased substantially.

According to the report, Odisha has made a quantum leap with 25 point decline in infant deaths by reducing IMR from 65 (NFHS-3) to 40 (NFHS-4), which is better than national average that recorded a decline of 16 point. It ranked better than other major states like Gujarat (16 point), Rajasthan (24 point) Chhattisgarh (17 point), MP (18 point), Bihar (13 point) and Maharastra (13 point).

By the time children complete their first year they are supposed to receive a BCG vaccination against tuberculosis, a measles vaccination and three doses each of polio and DPT vaccines. According to the survey, around 79 percent of children between 12-23 months have received all the basic vaccinations against six major childhood illnesses, which is more than the national average (62%).

There has been a substantial increase in coverage of all basic vaccinations in the 10 years since NFHS-3 (52%). The percentage of improvement for Odisha is 26.8 points, which is far better than national average of 18.5 points, as well as than other states like Gujurat (5.2 points), Maharastra (-2.5 points), Tamilnadu (-11.2 points) and Madhya Pradesh (13.3 points). 

Diarrhoea is one of the challenges for health of young children in Odisha. However, with the use of ORS, there has been progress in the situation. 97% of women who gave birth in the last five years know about Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) for the treatment of diarrhea. Even majority of the 69% (NFHS-4) of children under five years of age who had diarrhoea in the past two weeks received a solution made from ORS packets, compared to the earlier 39.8% (NFHS-3). Overall, 19 percent of children with diarrhoea were given gruel and three-fourths were treated with some kind of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) including gruel, increased fluids, or ORS.