Neonatal mortality rate (NMR) in India: a study using one-way ANOVA and multiple linear regression (MLR)

Abstract

Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) is of grave concern for India and other low-income and middle-income countries aspiring to meet the Sustainability Development Goals by 2030 (SDG30). As per government estimates, the NMR in India was 30 per 1000 live births in 2019. Achieving the target of 12 deaths per 1000 live births by 2030 remains a considerable challenge. This study was conducted using indicators from the State Health Index Round 4 (SHI-R4), covering 34 states and union territories (N=34). One-way ANOVA was performed to identify significant differences in mean NMR, if any, between states and union territories (UTs). Later, a model was built using multiple linear regression techniques to predict the NMR in India using indicators available in the SHI-R4. The model obtained had an R2 value of 0.37. Among the significant predictors that most influenced the NMR were the average occupancy of a district Chief Medical Officer (CMO), the number of caesarean sections performed at First Referral Units (FRUs), and the Kayakalp score of public health facilities. The study findings add to the existing scholarship on NMR in India. The results are significant both in terms of future research and policymaking decisions.