High infant mortality in Gujarat mars its developmental image

Gujarat, despite growing second fastest states, is ranked 23rd when it comes at Infant Mortality Rate (IMR).

By ET Bureau | Feb 04, 2014, 04.00 AM IST

High infant mortality in Gujarat mars its developmental image

Gujarat, despite growing second fastest states, is ranked 23rd when it comes at Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)—a key health indicator. In comparison, Tamil Nadu—which grew in excess of 10 per cent in seven years between 2005-12, is ranked 7th.

Gujarat is the second-fastest growing state among the top 5 states...
.

...But it spends the least on health in percentage terms...

...Which partly explains its deficit in primary health centres...

Primary Health Centres are the first point of contact between medical officer & villagers. TN has least percentage of infrastructure at this level, and that’s why probably it was able to bring down IMR to less than 21. In comparison, other states have higher level of infrast deficit