Maternal and child health: infant mortality rate: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

PSM · Maternal and child health: infant mortality rate

Sample item

A town had 3,000 live births in a year, with 60 deaths under one year of age. The infant mortality rate is:

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. 20 per 1,000 live births

IMR is deaths under one year divided by live births in the same year, multiplied by 1,000. Sixty divided by 3,000 times 1,000 is 20.

Option by option

  • A. 60 per 1,000 live births

    60 is the number of deaths, not a rate.

  • B. 2 per 1,000 live births

    2 per 1,000 is a decimal error.

  • C. 20 per 1,000 live births (correct)

    Correct. 60 divided by 3,000 times 1,000 gives 20.

  • D. 5 per 1,000 live births

    5 per 1,000 does not match the data.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is C, 20 per 1,000 live births. IMR is deaths under one year divided by live births in the same year, multiplied by 1,000.

Why is "60 per 1,000 live births" not the answer?

60 is the number of deaths, not a rate.

Why is "2 per 1,000 live births" not the answer?

2 per 1,000 is a decimal error.

Why is "5 per 1,000 live births" not the answer?

5 per 1,000 does not match the data.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Maternal and child health: infant mortality rate in PSM. Sixty divided by 3,000 times 1,000 is 20.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Maternal and child health: infant mortality rate?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.