Countdown to 2015: An Analytical Tracking of Millennium Development Goals for Maternal and Child Mortality in India

INTRODUCTION:  Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a set of numerical and time bound targets to measure achievement in human and social development. Of 8 MDGs, U5MR, IMR and MMR are of paramount importance in respect of different aspects of human development. In view of policy initiatives and investments made since 2000 in India, the analytical tracking of MDG 4 and 5, which calls for 2/3^rdreduction of under five child mortality and three quarter reduction in maternal mortality ratio, respectively between 1990 and 2015 is required so as to monitor the progress.

METHODS:  The data for the present study was taken from Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementations, Govt of India. The analysis of progress towards MDGs 4 and 5 was carried out by using statistical tools. 

RESULTS:  The U5MR which was 125 in 1990 declined to 59 in year 2010 (with 66 in rural and 38 in urban areas) against a target of 42 by 2015. Over the time the observed decline is more for male child than the female child, being 55 and 64 in 2010, respectively.

The infant mortality rate which was 80 in 1990 declined by 33 points in last 20 years at annual average decline of 1.65 points against the MDG target of 27 in 2015. IMR for infant girls remained consistently higher than IMR of infant boys over the last two decades.  The relative decline in IMR (males) during 1990 to 2010 has been about 41% in comparison to 39.5% IMR (females). The rural urban gap in IMR signifies a drop of 35 points in rural against 19 points in urban.

CONCLUSIONS: Though the 2015 deadline for MDGs is fast approaching, India is set to miss its maternal and child mortality targets.