Infant mortality in India: An analysis on spatial and sex-wise differences and factors determining the infant mortality rate

This study tried to analyse the state wise Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and examined the important factors that determine IMR in India. The study also presents sex- wise and spatial (Urban & Rural) differences in IMR across Indian states. State wise analysis reveals that Southern states have lower IMR compared to Northern states. On the other hand, spatial differences in IMR are higher than sex-wise differences across states. The regression analysis on cross-sectional data to understand the factors determining IMR shows that Female Literacy Rate and Total Fertility Rate have inverse and direct relationship with IMR respectively. Average out of pocket expenditure per delivery turns to be insignificant in determining IMR in India. Since there is a high difference in IMR across regions, the focus of the government policies should be more on the socio-economic improvement of the northern and north-eastern states to bridge the gap in the gender and spatial IMR across states.