pyq/2015/csat/4

India accounts for nearly a fifth of the world’s child deaths. In terms of numbers, it is the highest in the world — nearly 16 lakhs every year. Of these, more than half die in the first month of life. Officials believe that the reason for this is the absence of steps to propagate basic health practices relating to breastfeeding and immunisation. Also, the large reproductive population of 2.6 crore remains benefit of care during the critical phases of pregnancy and post-delivery. Added to this is the prevalence of child marriages, anaemia among young women and lack of focus on adolescent sanitation, all of which impact child death rates.

Which is the critical inference that can be made from the above passage?

(A) A lot of Indians are illiterate and hence do not recognize the value of basic health practices.

(B) India has a very huge population and the government alone cannot manage public health services.

(C) Universalization and integration of maternal health and child health services can effectively address the problem.

(D) The nutrition of women in childbearing age does not affect the child mortality rate.