Analysis of Infant Mortality Rate in Indian States

Abstract

The aim of this research is to explore the status of infant mortality at the state level, rate of change over the study period (1981–2011) and regional variation in infant mortality rate (IMR) and present a case as to how health status can be improved through targeting goals as in the case of IMR by the health planners and policymakers. The achievement of each of the 15 states on the basis of IMR is examined on the basis of divergence reduction. Sigma and beta absolute convergence measures used to determine the nature of change in the degree of regional inequality in IMR show positive results in achieving regional convergence. This confirms that the government policy and programmes to control and reduce IMR have been successful. IMR is frequently questioned as a measure of health status as infant mortality turns out to be the main focus of health policy; however, the entire population’s health possibly will be ignored in achieving the policy targets. However, the brighter side to it is that the entire gamut of health indicators can be targeted in a phased manner to achieve the overall improvement in the health status.