Reviewing Child -Survival and Its Possible Linkages to Household Environment: A Study on Selected States of India

Research evidence around the world suggests clear linkages between social-determinants and child health and/or survival. Improving daily-living conditions as suggested by the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (2008) becomes a key to make much of the desired progress in achieving child-health equity in a single generation. The present paper reviews the evidence of socially determined effects on infant mortality in the nine states of India that register high rates for fertility and infant mortality. Infant mortality statistics are collated from the first round of Annual Health Survey (2010-11), while indicators for social determinants are based on National Census 2011 and Reproductive and Child Health Survey 3rd Round 2007-08. The district level variations in infant mortality rate are explained through multiple linear regression model, having considered social-explanatory factors grouped in three major domains, i.e., household physical environment, access to social services and built capabilities among mothers. The most critical task becomes creating an enabling environment for building capabilities among mothers, if to achieve equity in child survival in these selected states of India.