Decline in IMR

• IMR: (infant mortality rate) number of infants dying before their first birthday per 1000 live births
• Harper 2012:

  1. fall in IMR leads to fall in birth rate
  2. if many infants infants die - parents will have more children to replace those who are lost
• 1900: IMR 154

  2023: IMR 3
• Reasons for decline in IMR:

  1. improved housing and better sanitation
  2. better nutrition
  3. better knowledge of hygiene, child health and welfare
  4. fall in married women working
  5. improved services for both mother and child
• Brass and Kabir 1978:

  1. fall in IMR did not lead to fall in birth rate
  2. fall in birth rate began in cities where the IMR was higher for longer