Impact of community well-being on infant mortality in a demographically backward state in India

Barsharani Maharana, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Laishram Ladusingh, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

Infant mortality in Orissa, a demographically backward state in India has started showing sign of decline as evident from National Family Health Survey-3 (2005-06) after a period of long spell of persistently high infant mortality rate. This paper test two main hypotheses: one pertaining to overall community wellbeing and the other relating to inequality in wellbeing in the community. Decomposition analysis reveals that inequality in community wellbeing contributes significantly over time in the decline in infant mortality in Orissa, while the overall community wellbeing, although has inverse association with infant mortality, it’s significance seems to be receding over time. Favorable influence of community wellbeing on enhancing survival of infanthood is being explained by the fact that households which are part of better-off communities benefits in terms of knowledge and practice of newborn care.