The role of national rural health mission in reducing infant mortality rate in India

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the role of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in reducing Infant Mortality in India. The study will help the government in deciding its future course of action regarding the infant mortality rate (IMR) reduction in India. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts the interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) approach with a control group to study the role of NRHM in reducing the IMR in India. The authors examined infant mortality in rural areas of India for the level and trend change before and after the implementation of NRHM. The authors then applied a suitable ARMA model to estimate the coefficients of the regression model. From the estimated results, the study predicts the counterfactuals for both the rural IMR and urban IMR and plots the results. Findings The study found the evidence supporting the hypotheses that the NRHM has led to a reduction in the difference between urban IMR and rural IMR. The research shows that the rural IMR declined at steeper rates in the post-NRHM period (2005–2015). Originality/value None of the existing studies analyses the impact of a social scheme like NRHM on the reduction of IMR in India by applying the ITSA. The study is unique as it estimates the counterfactuals and plots the results which show the impact of NRHM on reducing IMR.

Impact of National Health Mission on infant mortality in India: An interrupted time series analysis

“…This rate of decline was reported to be higher in bigger states, similar to the results we found 28 . The post‐NHM implementation phase has been reported to have a 0.6%–2% higher rate of decline per annum in IMR as compared to the pre‐NHM period 29–31 . Difference in rate of decline in IMR between urban and rural areas has also been reported to narrow down after the implementation of NHM 31 .…”

“…The post‐NHM implementation phase has been reported to have a 0.6%–2% higher rate of decline per annum in IMR as compared to the pre‐NHM period 29–31 . Difference in rate of decline in IMR between urban and rural areas has also been reported to narrow down after the implementation of NHM 31 . However, most of these studies were based on computation of a mean annual rate of reduction, unlike the ARIMA model coupled with interrupted time‐series approach that we employed.…”

Does socio-economic inequality in infant mortality still exists in India? An analysis based on National Family Health Survey 2005–06 and 2015–16

“…21,22 Moreover, the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has contributed significantly to reducing infant mortality in rural India. 23 Various studies have highlighted that NRHM has significantly reduced the healthcare inequalities in India. 24 Mother's education and open defecation were the top two contributors to inequality in infant mortality in India during 2015-16.…”

Reducing Infant and Under-5 Mortality Rate Through Government Health Expenditure: a Systematic Review

“…The results suggested that NRHM in India succeeded in reducing the IMR gap between urban and rural areas. This time-series analysis further explained a decrease in IMR several years before the implementation of NRHM which helped accelerate it (Pandey and Mohan, 2019).…”

“…The fourth and sixth studies took place in India and discussed the NRHM using different approaches. NRHM is a scheme created by the central government that aims to reduce IMR in India by strengthening delivery services at the village level (Pandey and Mohan, 2019). Other programs have been launched under this scheme.…”