2025, Vol. 7, Issue 12, Part C

Author(s): Ishika Tiwari

Abstract: Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is widely regarded as a key indicator of a country’s health status and socioeconomic development. This study examines the determinants of IMR across Indian states, focusing on maternal anaemia, maternal undernutrition (low BMI), female literacy rate, per capita State Gross Domestic Product (GSDP), and hospital availability. Using state-level data from the Handbook of Statistics on Indian States (2020) and population projections from the Registrar General of India (2021) [26], a log-linear regression model is estimated for 27 states, incorporating a state-specific dummy variable to capture unobserved regional heterogeneity. The results reveal that maternal anaemia and low BMI significantly increase IMR, while female literacy rate and per capita State GSDP exert strong and statistically significant negative effects, underscoring the protective role of women’s education and income-related socioeconomic development. In contrast, hospital availability per 10,000 population shows a positive and significant association with IMR, suggesting a reactive pattern of healthcare infrastructure expansion in high-mortality states rather than a purely preventive effect. Overall, the findings highlight that sustained reductions in infant mortality in India require integrated strategies that improve maternal nutrition and female education, raise income levels, and enhance the quality and effectiveness of healthcare services, rather than relying solely on the expansion of physical health infrastructure.

DOI: 10.33545/27068919.2025.v7.i12c.1805

Pages: 148-156 | Views: 183 | Downloads: 75

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