Comprehensive rural health services project Ballabgarh : trends in underfive mortality

Abstract

Mortality data of underfives during 1972–1974 and 1982–1984 in rural area were analysed. Underfives’ deaths were reduced by 35.9%, though the reduction was less in infants (27.2%), than in post infancy underfives (46.9%). The underfives’ death rate came down by 44.1% (from 38.3) to21.4 per 1000 underfives during the decade. The infant deaths show a uniform reduction in different age periods. The female underfives’ deaths are more than male deaths indicating a relative neglect of female children. The only diseases showing reduction in mortality in a substantial manner are tetanus and typhoid. Otherwise there is a general reduction in all causes. Prematurity, acute respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, malnutrition and septicemia constituted 84.7% of deaths in infancy in 1982–84 and acute respiratory infections, malnutrition and diarrheal diseases constituted 69.7% in the 1–4 age group. This study shows how a strong referral service built into medical care with preventive and promotive methods can reduce the underfives mortality.