Madhya Pradesh Improves in Child Mortality Rate, Matches UP and Chhattisgarh
Despite having a health department budget larger than Kerala and states like Chhattisgarh and Odisha, Madhya Pradesh continues to struggle with child mortality. As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2023, MP ranks second in India for child deaths (0 to 4 years), just after Uttar Pradesh.
Lowest Child Death Rate in Kerala
Kerala recorded the lowest mortality rate for children under the age of 4 at just 1.3%. Following Kerala are Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, with death rates of 2.3%. Karnataka reported 3.7%, Maharashtra 3.8%, and Punjab again at 3.9%.
Urban Areas: MP Has Highest Under-5 Death Rate
While MP is second overall in total deaths of children aged 0–4, it ranks first in urban areas with a death rate of 10.5%. Uttar Pradesh follows closely with 10.1%, Rajasthan and Bihar both at 9.4%, and Chhattisgarh at 7.4%.
Rural Child Mortality: MP Also Second
In rural regions, MP again ranks second with a 15.5% death rate, following Uttar Pradesh at 16.1%. Rajasthan and Jharkhand follow in third and fourth places respectively. Kerala, however, maintains the lowest rural and urban death rates.
Government Response and Innovations
Commissioner of the Health Department, Tarun Rathi, said the government is introducing several innovations to curb maternal and child mortality. These include increasing the number of trained doctors in rural and urban areas, strengthening referral systems and ambulance services, and establishing dedicated maternal-child health centers at the block level. Nutrition, immunization, and health monitoring are being emphasized.
Related Data
- 50.9% of men and women in MP remain unmarried — among the highest in India.
- Child population in MP has declined by 42% over the last 52 years since 1971.