Mapping neonatal mortality in India: A closer look

• Main Authors: Myron Anthony Godinho, Shruti Murthy, Theophilus Lakiang, Amitha Puranik, Sreekumaran N Nair
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Community Medicine
• Subjects: Child health; India; maps; neonatal mortality
• Online Access: http://www.ijcm.org.in/article.asp?issn=0970-0218;year=2017;volume=42;issue=4;spage=234;epage=237;aulast=Godinho

Introduction: Fifty-three percent of Indian under-5 deaths occur during the neonatal age group. Recognizing that there is a lack of illustrated district-level data on neonatal mortality in India, we mapped this to visually highlight districts where neonatal health issues require the most attention. Methods: District-level estimates of 596 Indian districts were used to generate maps and to illustrate neonatal mortality rates (NMRs), absolute numbers of neonatal deaths; the best and worst performing districts (positive and negative deviants) in each Indian state; the neonatal female/male death ratio; and district lag in NMR reductions. Results: The NMR ranged from 4.3 (Kannur, Kerala) to 65.1 (Datia, Madhya Pradesh), with the mean NMR being 29.8. Almost two-thirds of the districts (n = 380, 63.7%) had NMRs between 20 and 40. The top third of neonatal deaths could be accounted for by just 71 districts of a total of 596. Conclusion: There is an urgent need for up-to-date data on district-level neonatal mortality in India.