Gender and Infant Survival in Rural Tamil Nadu-Situation and Strategy

Gender and Infant Survival in Rural Tamil Nadu Situation and Strategy Venkatesh Athreya Sheela Rani Chunkath Infant mortality rate (/MR) is a useful indicator of the health status of a population. In India IMR remains unacceptably high. A sample survey of district-level IMRs in rural Tamil Nadu shorn that the crux of the problem is early neonatal mortality compounded by the practice of female infanticide. The major medical causes of infant mortality are birth asphyxia, respiratory infection, premature birth and low birth weight. Better access to health facilities, training for personnel and good quality equipment are required to tackle the problem.