India has been ranked 12 among 52 countries of low-middle income when it comes to newborn mortality. A UNICEF report showing this data was released on 20th February. The report is based on the statistics regarding the number of children dying within the first month of their birth. In India, this number is 25.4 per 1000 live births.
The statistics show that six lakh newborns die in India within 28 days of being born. This number is one of the highest in the world. Despite the bleak news from the report, it also says that India has been able to decrease the mortality rate of children below the age of five. Even if the number of deaths has declined the number still remains pretty high.
The report says that the newborn survival is closely linked to a country’s income level. High-income countries have a Newborn mortality rate of just three. But low-income countries have a rate as high as 27. The report also said that if every country was able to bring the rate up to the level of the high-income countries by 2030, then 16 million newborn lives could be saved. More than 80% of the deaths are due to premature birth, complications during birth and labour along with diseases like sepsis, meningitis and pneumonia also cause deaths of children. It has been found that babies born to mothers with no education face twice the risk of dying.
In 2016, India saw 1,20,000 fewer deaths than 2015. India has almost met its MDG. The number of under-five deaths has also gone below a million. India is on track to meet its SDG target to bring the under-five mortality numbers to 25 per 1000 live births by 2030. The current rate is 39. But India is the only country to have a higher mortality of girls than of boys. While India is showing progress, there is still a long way to go.