AMC Revises Infant Mortality Data Amid Errors

Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has recently revised its reports on infant mortality rates, revealing discrepancies in previously published figures. The health department’s annual reports for the past two years contained inaccuracies regarding population projections, death rates, and infant mortality rates (IMR), prompting a significant correction.

In June, the AMC reported discrepancies in the 2022-23 annual report, which highlighted a troubling issue with infant death statistics. Initial figures indicated 803 infant deaths out of 1.04 lakh births for the 2019-20 period, reflecting an IMR of 7.66 per 1,000 births. However, these numbers have been significantly adjusted: the corrected figures now show 3,103 infant deaths, raising the IMR to 29.60.

Similarly, the 2022-23 report originally listed 1 lakh births with 2,237 infant deaths. The revised numbers now show 2,435 deaths, altering the IMR from 22.19 to 24.15 per 1,000 births. This adjustment also extended to population estimates; the projected population for 2022-23 was initially pegged at 73.12 lakh but has been revised downward to 70.67 lakh. Consequently, the birth rate was adjusted from 13.79 to 14.27, while the death rate was corrected from 7.5 to 7.76.

The discrepancies were initially dismissed as “typographical clerical mistakes” by the health department, which subsequently presented a proposal to the standing committee for rectification. The standing committee approved the proposal in July, leading to the updated figures. This revision has raised questions about the accuracy of the statistical methods used and the integrity of the data reporting processes. The revised numbers now reflect a more accurate picture of infant mortality and demographic trends, but the initial errors have led to concerns about the reliability of public health data and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms within the AMC.