Odisha sees rise in death of ST kids under 5 years: National Family Health Survey

Bhubaneswar: The death of children under 5 years of age among Schedule Tribes has increased from 65.6 per 1,000 live births in 2015-16 — according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) — to 66.2 per 1,000 live births in 2021 (NFHS-5).

Not only children but women in the state are also highly anaemic, the survey said. The rate of anaemia among pregnant women in Odisha has increased from 47.6% in 2015-16 to 61.8% in 2019-21 against the national rate of 52.2%. This has led to high maternal mortality rate in the state, it added.

According to women and child development minister Basanti Hembram, a total 92,924 children under five have died in the state from 2016-17 to 2021-22. In 2021-22 alone, 14,228 children under five have died, the minister informed the assembly.

Though Odisha has reported the highest point decline in infant mortality rate (IMR) in the country, the under-5 mortality rate (USMR) among Schedule Tribes has been a cause of concern.

“The major reason for the high USMR among tribal children is low weight at birth, which later leads to severe malnutrition and death of children. Despite various government interventions, the unhygienic health practices, living conditions, geographical terrain also contribute to the rising USMR among tribal kids,” said Ramprasad Patnaik, a social activist working in the nutrition of tribal children.

The minister also admitted that anaemia is a major public health concern in Odisha that affects one in every two women in the state. The prevalence of anaemia has increased among pregnant women from 47.6% in 2015-16 to 61.8% in 2019-21.

Among the reproductive age group of 15-49 years, 64.3% are anaemic, while the rate of prevalence of anaemia is highest among adolescent girls in the age group of 15-19 years of age. Among children in the age group of 6-59 months is 64.2 %, the NHFS-5 said.

Iron deficiency or anaemia has direct impact on maternal maternity rate. “Anaemia among pregnant women leads to premature birth and low birth weight,” said gynaecologist Dr Narahari Agasti.

However, the Odisha government has launched several schemes like adolescent anaemia control programme (AACP), iron and folic acid supplementation under observation (IFSO), weekly iron folic acid supplementation (WIFS), and anaemia mukt Odisha.