UNDER-FIVE MORTALITY DIFFERENTIALS IN INDIA

In India, the under-five mortality rates (U5MR) including neonatal, infant and child mortality rates started declining since the late 1970s and socio-economic behavioural determinants have had a significant role in reducing child mortality. Factors such as place of residence and sex have bearing on child mortality. The basic objective of this study is to describe and understand how deaths of children under-five years vary with and depend upon these socio-economic characteristics. The study uses data from the three National Family Health Surveys conducted between 1992 and 2006 to study changes that have taken place across regions over time. U5MRs are computed for the three surveys for four subgroups viz., Urban Males, Rural Males, Urban Females and Rural Females. The box percentile plot is used to compare the distribution for its extent of variation and the trend in variations graphically. Distribution dynamics is used to examine explicit patterns of cross regional interactions and states with low and high U5MRs are identified. The results of this study show that a higher share of public services on health, education and amenities has had a significant impact in bringing down mortality levels. The essentiality of public services is thus emphasised.