Explaining Gender Differentials in Child Mortality in India: Trends and Determinants

This study aimed to investigate the progress in gender differential in child mortality in
India and factors explaining it. Based on the analyses of three rounds of National Family
Health Survey data the findings suggest that there is a positive change in the scenario of
child mortality from 1992 to 2006 where, though, largely female child is at higher risk but
there is a decline in the risk. The decomposition analyses suggest that demographic
variables such as breastfeeding, birth order, antenatal care and mother’s age emerged as
critical contributors for excess female child mortality compared to socioeconomic
variables. Overall, the results foster that the gender discrimination is mainly operating
through provision of breastfeeding and negligence of higher order female births. The study
also foster that discrimination of higher order female birth mainly operates in terms of
health care provisions and allocation of intra-household resources.