Karnataka Records Dramatic 55% Drop in Infant Mortality Over Past Decade
Bengaluru has become the focal point of a significant public health achievement as Karnataka emerges as one of India's better-performing states in improving child health outcomes, with a particularly notable reduction in infant mortality rates. The Economic Survey 2025-26, tabled in Parliament on Thursday, reveals that the state has successfully reduced its Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) by more than half over the past decade from 2013 to 2023, signaling substantial gains in maternal and neonatal healthcare infrastructure and services.
Statistical Evidence of Remarkable Progress
According to data cited in the survey from Karnataka's health department, which is based on Sample Registration System reports, the state's IMR stood at 31 in 2013. By 2023, this figure had plummeted to just 14, representing an approximately 55% reduction over the ten-year period. The Infant Mortality Rate is a critical health indicator that measures the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1,000 live births annually within a specific region.
This achievement is particularly significant when viewed in the national context. While India's overall IMR declined by 37.5% between 2013 and 2023, falling from 40 to 25 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, Karnataka's progress has been substantially more rapid and pronounced. The state's performance places it alongside Himachal Pradesh among states that have recorded sharp reductions in infant mortality.
Karnataka's Position in National Child Health Landscape
The survey highlights that several southern and north-eastern states, including Kerala, Goa, Sikkim, and Manipur, have already achieved single-digit IMRs, which are comparable with developed countries. Karnataka's progress represents a significant step toward joining this elite group of states with exceptional child health outcomes.
For Karnataka, which plays a pivotal role in India's technology, manufacturing, and services economy, improved child survival rates strengthen long-term human capital formation. Healthier children grow into more productive adults, creating a positive cycle of development and economic growth for the state and the nation.
Key Factors Behind Karnataka's Success
The Economic Survey attributes these improvements to a combination of strategic interventions:
- Expanded institutional deliveries ensuring more births occur in medical facilities
- Enhanced neonatal care with specialized units at multiple healthcare levels
- Improved immunization coverage protecting infants from preventable diseases
- Strengthened primary healthcare systems reaching communities effectively
Karnataka's health indicators reflect sustained investments under national programs such as the National Health Mission, alongside state-level efforts to improve access to skilled birth attendance and comprehensive post-natal care.
Community and Institutional Strengthening Initiatives
State health officials have attributed this improvement to both institutional and community strengthening over the last decade. Dr. Basavaraj B Dhabadi, deputy director (child health), explained the evolution of community-based care programs: "Following national guidelines, we transformed what was earlier Home Based Newborn Care (HNBC), under which ASHA workers visited communities to educate families about newborn care up to 20 days. This changed into Home Based Young Child Care (HBYC), extending the care period to 1.5 years."
On the institutional side, Karnataka introduced a multi-level care system:
- Special newborn care units in medical college hospitals for advanced treatment
- Newborn stabilization units at the taluka level where babies with complications receive pre-referral treatment
- Newborn care corners in labor rooms at delivery points for immediate postnatal attention
This comprehensive approach has created a robust healthcare ecosystem that addresses infant health needs at multiple levels, from community education to advanced medical intervention.
Long-Term Implications and Future Directions
The dramatic reduction in infant mortality represents more than just statistical improvement—it signifies thousands of lives saved and families spared from tragedy. As Karnataka continues to build on this success, the state serves as a model for other regions seeking to improve child health outcomes through coordinated public health initiatives.
The Economic Survey's findings underscore the importance of sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure, community health worker programs, and evidence-based interventions. Karnataka's achievement demonstrates that with focused effort and proper resource allocation, significant improvements in public health indicators are achievable within a relatively short timeframe.
