Which is the commonest cause of Infant Mortality Rate in India?

RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2019

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2019

Explanation

Prematurity and low birth weight are the single largest cause of infant mortality in India, accounting for 31.6% of all infant deaths.
The majority of infant deaths (about 72%) occur in the neonatal period (first 28 days), where prematurity and its complications are the most dominant cause (44.7%).
Complications of prematurity include respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, and a high susceptibility to infections.

Option B: Diarrhoeal diseases are a major cause of post-neonatal mortality (1-12 months) but contribute only 3.6% to the overall infant mortality, which is significantly lower than prematurity.
Option C: Congenital malformations account for about 5.3% of infant deaths in India. While significant, this is much lower than the percentage of deaths caused by prematurity.
Option D: Respiratory infections, primarily pneumonia, are the second leading cause of infant death (16.2%) and a primary cause of post-neonatal death. However, they are still responsible for about half as many deaths as prematurity.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Causes of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse's primary role in reducing IMR starts with high-quality antenatal care to prevent preterm births through health education, nutritional support, and early identification of high-risk pregnancies.
In the neonatal ICU, nurses are central to managing preterm infants by providing thermal care (Kangaroo Mother Care), respiratory support, infection control, and nutritional support, directly impacting survival.
What if the question asked for the leading cause of mortality in children aged 1-5 years (Child Mortality Rate)? The answer would shift from prematurity to Pneumonia and Diarrhoea, which are the top killers in this age group.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key terms in the question: "commonest cause," "Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)," and "India."
Recall the definition of IMR: deaths of infants under one year of age. Understand that this includes both the neonatal (0-28 days) and post-neonatal (28 days to 1 year) periods.
Recognize that the neonatal period has the highest mortality rate, and its causes heavily influence the overall IMR.
Access knowledge about the primary causes of neonatal death in India, with prematurity/low birth weight being the most significant.
Compare the weight of each option. While diarrhoea and respiratory infections are major killers, their impact is often greater in the post-neonatal period. Prematurity is the overwhelming cause in the high-risk neonatal period, making it the leading cause overall.
Conclude that prematurity is the single largest contributor to IMR in India.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Causes of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in India
Stem keywords: Infant Mortality Rate, IMR, commonest cause, India
Lead-in keywords: Which is
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health Nursing for BSc Nursing Students Part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-275 of 550) p. 192-194

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 68-70