Socio-Economic Inequalities in Early Neonatal Mortality in India

About three-fourths of neonatal deaths take place within the first week of life. Mortality reduction should be focused on early neonatal period but progress varies across different groups of population. This paper examines this inequality and its determinants. It is based on the latest round of National Family Health Survey data (NFHS-3;2005-2006). The sample size is 56,438 live births during five years preceding the survey. The concentration index is used to measure inequality in early neonatal mortality and the decomposition analysis has been carried out to know its determinants. There is inequality and deaths are concentrated among the poor. EAG region shows lower inequality with higher mortality and in other region higher inequality with lower mortality. The major contributors of inequality are mother’s education, antenatal care utilization, household’s economic status, place of residence and exposure to mass media. There is a need for reduction of inequalities in education, wealth and ante natal care utilization to achieve equity.