In India at present, the infant mortality rate is around?

NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2019

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2019

Explanation

According to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) data, India's Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) was 28 per 1,000 live births in 2020 and has since declined to 26 in 2022.
Among the given options, 29 is the closest approximation to the current official figures, also reflecting the rural IMR.
IMR is defined as the number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000 live births and is a critical indicator of a country's health status.

Option B: This value is outdated. India's IMR has shown a significant decline over the past decade due to improved healthcare services.
Option C: This value is also outdated. While it reflects progress from earlier years, it does not represent the current, lower rate.
Option D: This option is incorrect because one of the provided numerical options, '29', serves as a very close and reasonable estimate of the current IMR, which official data places around 26-28.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a pivotal role in reducing IMR through health education on antenatal care, nutrition, institutional deliveries, and immunization.
Community health nurses are key in identifying high-risk pregnancies and newborns, ensuring timely referrals and follow-ups to prevent mortality.
What if? If a community reports a sudden spike in infant deaths, the nurse's first action is to investigate the causes (e.g., an outbreak of diarrheal disease or measles), report to higher authorities, and implement immediate control measures like ORS distribution and promoting hygiene.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept: The question asks for a current key health statistic for India - the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR).
This is a factual recall question. You need to remember the approximate current value from official sources like the Sample Registration System (SRS) or National Family Health Survey (NFHS).
Recall that India has made significant progress in reducing IMR, so older, higher values (like 49 or 39) are likely incorrect.
The most recent figures are in the high 20s. Compare the options to this recalled value.
Select the option that is closest to the known official data. In this case, 29 is the nearest choice to the reported 26-28 range.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in India
Stem keywords: India, infant mortality rate, at present
Lead-in keywords: around
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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