Andhra Pradesh witnessed a staggering 291% increase in registered infant deaths between 2013 and 2022, rising from 2,130 to 8,346 annually, according to data from the Vital Statistics of India Based on the Civil Registration System and the Sample Registration System Statistical Report.
From Undivided Andhra to Post-Bifurcation Reality
Before its bifurcation in 2014, undivided Andhra Pradesh regularly recorded among the highest infant death numbers nationally. In 2009, the undivided state logged 10,254 infant deaths. But just four years later, the number dropped sharply to 2,130 in the residual Andhra Pradesh—raising questions about reporting efficiency rather than true mortality changes.
IMR: The Other Side of the Coin
Despite the concerning rise in registered deaths, Andhra Pradesh achieved remarkable success in reducing its infant mortality rate—from 43.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2010-12 to 21.0 in 2020-22, representing a 51.4 percent improvement that ranked fourth-best nationally.
Karnataka demonstrated even stronger IMR performance, achieving a 50.4% reduction from 34.9 to 17.3 deaths per 1,000 births, while Tamil Nadu improved by 47.8% (22.4 to 11.7) and Kerala, starting from the lowest baseline, still managed a 48.4% improvement (12.4 to 6.4).
National Snapshot: Declines Amid Disparities
India’s national IMR fell 39.1%, from 44.5 (2010–12) to 27.1 (2020–22). This progress is evident in both rural (37.7% drop) and urban (37.9% drop) areas, with the urban–rural gap narrowing from 19.5 to 12.2 points.
Yet, registered infant death data fluctuated. Nationally, the count peaked at 189,008 in 2014, dropped to 136,648 in 2021, and slightly increased to 142,771 in 2022.
Among large states:
-
Maharashtra reported the highest absolute deaths annually (13,807 to 22,470).
-
West Bengal achieved a 68.3% drop in registered deaths (14,012 to 4,436).
-
Uttar Pradesh showed a 67% reduction, from 18,760 to 6,193.
Regional Disparities Remain
Despite overall progress, high-burden states like Madhya Pradesh (IMR: 59.3 to 41.4) and Chhattisgarh (48.6 to 38.0) continue to struggle with higher mortality rates. In contrast, southern states consistently outperform the national average.
Urban-rural disparities persist, though narrowing. For instance, Kerala’s urban IMR was just 8.1, while rural areas like Madhya Pradesh saw 44.8 deaths per 1,000 live births.
As India moves toward better child health outcomes, bridging regional gaps and strengthening rural health systems will be essential to ensure that every child, in every state, gets an equal start to life.
Source: South First
