Infant mortality rate in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Uttar Pradesh: a comparative analysis using national family health survey 2019-21 data

The mortality rate is regarded as a state’s health indicator, as it focuses on health policy for a limited group of the population rather than on rest. The purpose of this review is to gain a deeper understanding of child health indicators, specifically the infant mortality rate (IMR), by comparing a high-performing state like Kerala and a low-performing state like Uttar Pradesh with Tamil Nadu, using NFHS-5 data. The study uses publicly available data from NFHS-5, conducted between 2019 and 2021 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, involving secondary analysis without human involvement or ethical committee approval. According to the NITI Aayog Health Index Score, among the larger states Kerala (82.20), Tamil Nadu (72.42) and Uttar Pradesh (30.57). The study found that women without schooling and those from Scheduled Castes/tribes had higher infant mortality rates (IMR) in rural areas and among Hindus in Uttar Pradesh and Kerala. Male children had higher mortality rates in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, while birth intervals of less than 2 years and 2-3 years had higher IMR in Kerala. Tamil Nadu and Kerala outperform Uttar Pradesh in reducing infant mortality rates due to welfare schemes and services. Increased public health spending is needed to address social inequalities and health awareness.