What is India's infant mortality rate (IMR)? (2018)

MP CHO -2019 (Shift-2)

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: MP CHO -2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

According to official data from India's Sample Registration System (SRS), the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) was 32 per 1,000 live births in 2018.
Among the given options, 33 is the closest value to the official statistic for that year.
This figure is part of a consistent downward trend in India's IMR, which fell further to 30 in 2019 and 28 in 2020.
IMR is a critical measure of a nation's health, indicating the quality of healthcare, nutrition, and sanitation.

Option A: This value is significantly higher than the IMR for 2018. An IMR of 55 corresponds to the level in India around the year 2005.
Option B: This value is also too high for 2018. India's IMR was approximately 47 in the year 2010.
Option C: While closer, this value is still incorrect. An IMR of 41 was recorded in India around 2014-2015.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain India's Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in 2018 as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses, particularly in community and public health settings, rely on statistics like IMR to identify high-risk populations, plan targeted health education, and advocate for better maternal and child health services.
Understanding IMR trends helps nurses emphasize the importance of antenatal care, institutional deliveries, postnatal care, and immunization to families.
What if? If a nurse is working in a state with an IMR significantly higher than the national average (e.g., Madhya Pradesh or Uttar Pradesh), their clinical priorities must shift to more intensive interventions like managing neonatal sepsis, promoting Kangaroo Mother Care for low-birth-weight babies, and ensuring strict adherence to vaccination schedules.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements of the question: 'Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)', the country 'India', and the specific year '2018'.
Recognize this as a factual recall question that requires knowledge of national health statistics.
Recall the general trend of IMR in India, which has been steadily decreasing over the past few decades.
Evaluate the given options in the context of this trend. Since the IMR has continued to fall (e.g., to 28 by 2020), the 2018 figure must be in the low 30s.
Eliminate options like 55, 47, and 41 as they represent data from much earlier years.
Select the option that most closely matches the known data for the specified period, making 33 the only plausible answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: India's Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in 2018
Stem keywords: India, infant mortality rate, IMR, 2018
Lead-in keywords: What is
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.

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