Mapping co-variates of mortality up to age of five years for Indian states

The study was conducted to obtain an index and a map with natural clusters by simultaneously considering sereral covariates of mortality and its indicators upto the age of five years for Indian states, Survey reports on various co-variates of infant mortality and their indicators for the year 1998-99 from National Family Health Survey Reports (NFHS II) were studied. Data on ninetten covariates of infant and child mortality for twenty major Indian states were used for the analysis. The covariates were based on socio-economic, demographic and mother's health care variables, morbidity and mortality indicators. An index for each state was obtained using statistical technique of factor analysis. Thie index measure health care needs of a state relative to the difference between the best and the worst states. Mapping of twenty states was done using cluster analysis. Eleven states had an inded of above 50, which shows greater care should be emphasized on health care variables to reduce mortality. Mapping using cluster analysis revealed a picture of natural clusters. The map with the index could help the health managers, social scientists and policy makers to identify areas that require more interventions. It could also help to comapre the various health intervention schemes that have been followed in the states, to devise more effective strategies for control of mortality and improvement of survival of young children.