Meghalaya: Birth rates in the state higher than national average

SHILLONG, June 26, 2018: The birth rate in Meghalaya has risen to numbers higher than the national average in recent years but infant mortality has also been on the higher side.

Data from National Health Profile 2018 says there has been consistent decrease in birth rate, death rate and natural growth rate in India from 1991 to 2016.

In 2016, India registered a birth rate of 20.4 per 1,000 people, death rate of 6.4 per 1,000 people and natural growth rate of 14 per 1,000 people.

The birth rate, death rate and natural growth rate were higher in rural areas compared to the urban areas.

In Meghalaya, the birth rate in 2014 was 24.1 (26.2 in the rural areas and 14.7 in urban areas) per 1,000 people, higher than the national average of 21. In 2015 and 2016, the birth rate in the state was 23.7 against a national average of 20.8 and 20.4 respectively.

The death rate in the state in 2015 was 7.4 against a national average of 6.5. In the rural areas, it was 7.8 while in the urban centres it was 5.5.

The study also revealed a decline in infant mortality rate. In 2015, Meghalaya had a staggering infant mortality rate of 42 per 1,000 births against a national average of 37. In 2016, the figure came down to 39 as the national average slid to 34. However, the difference in rural (38) and urban (23) centres is still high.

Further, the profile noted that the number of allopathic doctors registered with the State Medical Council in 2016 and 2017 were 25,282 and 17,982 respectively. In 2017, one allopathic doctor on an average was serving 10,189 people and 11,039 people in 2018.

The profile also noted a marked improvement in the dentist-population ratio. The number of dental surgeons registered with central/state dental councils up to December 31, 2017 were 251,207 compared to 197,734 in 2016.

On December 31, 2017, Meghalaya had 585 government allopathic doctors and 62 government dental surgeons. The profile pointed out that while the average population served per allopathic doctor was 4,791, a dental surgeon serves an average population of 45,210.

TNT News with The Telegraph inputs

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