Abstract
The increased reach of health programs in India during the past few decades has contributed to a decline in postnatal mortality
including infant and child mortality; however, reduction in neonatal mortality remained negligible. About seven out of ten
neonatal deaths take place within a week after birth. The progress in reduction as well as dimension along which early neonatal
mortality is patterned in India remains unclear. We examine the trend in early neonatal mortality and its possible demographic
and socioeconomic predictors using nationally representative data. Data from the three cross-sectional rounds of the National
Family Health Survey of India from 1992 to 1993, 1998 to 1999 and 2005 to 2006 were analyzed. Early neonatal mortality rate
was estimated for selected demographic and socioeconomic population groups and for major states in India using information
on births and deaths during the 3 years preceding the respective surveys. Using the multivariate logistic regression model,
we assessed proximate determinants of early neonatal deaths during 1990–2006. Sex of the child, child’s birth size, birth
order and interval, type of child’s birth, mother’s age at child’s birth, mother’s educational status, religion, household
economic status and region of residence emerged as significant predictors of early neonatal deaths. The adjusted multivariate
analysis indicates that majority of the socio-demographic predictors reveal a negligible decline in the probability of early
neonatal deaths during 1990–2006. Moreover, based on comprehensive reviews of scientific literature on newborn’s survival
we document some of the recommended ways to prevent early neonatal mortality in India.
including infant and child mortality; however, reduction in neonatal mortality remained negligible. About seven out of ten
neonatal deaths take place within a week after birth. The progress in reduction as well as dimension along which early neonatal
mortality is patterned in India remains unclear. We examine the trend in early neonatal mortality and its possible demographic
and socioeconomic predictors using nationally representative data. Data from the three cross-sectional rounds of the National
Family Health Survey of India from 1992 to 1993, 1998 to 1999 and 2005 to 2006 were analyzed. Early neonatal mortality rate
was estimated for selected demographic and socioeconomic population groups and for major states in India using information
on births and deaths during the 3 years preceding the respective surveys. Using the multivariate logistic regression model,
we assessed proximate determinants of early neonatal deaths during 1990–2006. Sex of the child, child’s birth size, birth
order and interval, type of child’s birth, mother’s age at child’s birth, mother’s educational status, religion, household
economic status and region of residence emerged as significant predictors of early neonatal deaths. The adjusted multivariate
analysis indicates that majority of the socio-demographic predictors reveal a negligible decline in the probability of early
neonatal deaths during 1990–2006. Moreover, based on comprehensive reviews of scientific literature on newborn’s survival
we document some of the recommended ways to prevent early neonatal mortality in India.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10900-012-9590-8
- Authors
- Chandan Kumar, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, Roorkee, 246 667 Uttarakhand, India
- Prashant Kumar Singh, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Govandi Station Road, Deonar, Mumbai, 400 088 India
- Rajesh Kumar Rai, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), V N Purav Marg, Deonar, Mumbai, 400 088 India
- Lucky Singh, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Govandi Station Road, Deonar, Mumbai, 400 088 India
- Journal Journal of Community Health
- Online ISSN 1573-3610
- Print ISSN 0094-5145