Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab recorded a sharp 17.56% increase in infant mortality in 2024, with urban areas accounting for nearly 90% of all infant deaths, according to the Vital Statistics Report 2024 based on the Civil Registration System (CRS).
The report reveals that 2,671 infant deaths were recorded in Punjab in 2024, up from 2,272 deaths in 2023. The state has witnessed a steady rise in infant mortality over the past few years, with 1,884 deaths in 2020, 1,830 in 2021, 2,336 in 2022, 2,272 in 2023, and 2,671 in 2024.
Health experts attribute the increase to premature births, birth asphyxia (lack of oxygen during delivery), infections, and inadequate prenatal care. Other contributing factors include poor healthcare access, inadequate sanitation, malnutrition, and diarrhoeal diseases.
In contrast to Punjab, the national infant mortality trend improved significantly, with India recording a 17.12% decline in infant deaths. The number of infant deaths across the country dropped from 1.45 lakh in 2023 to 1.20 lakh in 2024.
Among all districts, Amritsar reported the highest number of infant deaths at 835, followed by Jalandhar (368), Ludhiana (348), and Patiala (331).
The report states that the Health Department has identified these districts as priority areas and has stepped up efforts by improving hospital infrastructure, filling vacancies of doctors and medical staff, and conducting public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing infant mortality.
According to the Vital Statistics Report 2024, Amritsar recorded the highest number of infant deaths in Punjab with 835 cases, followed by Jalandhar (368), Ludhiana (348), and Patiala (331). Other districts reported Bathinda (187), Faridkot (169), Mohali (87), Hoshiarpur (60), Moga (55), Pathankot (36), Fazilka (32), Gurdaspur (32), SBS Nagar (25), Barnala (18), Sangrur (16), Sri Muktsar Sahib (15), Kapurthala (12), Malerkotla (12), Tarn Taran (11), Ferozepur (8), Fatehgarh Sahib (5), Mansa (5), and Rupnagar (4), the lowest among all districts in the state.
