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Infant mortality differentials among the tribal and non-tribal populations of Central and Eastern India

had 40% lower risk of death during infancy compared with first birth order babies in the same period.
However, a study on the utilization of maternal health services suggested that higher mortality risk
among first order births could be linked with the early childbearing trends and lower utilization of
maternity services in developing countries like India (Singh, Rai, Alagarajan et al., 2012).
Until the late 20th century, child mortality and fertility rates for the tribes were lower than those
for non-tribes. However, as these tribes acculturate more into the non-tribal society, it will lead to a
gradual erosion of their gender equality and lower fertility and mortality patterns (Maharatna, 2000).
Differentials in fertility and mortality patterns within India by caste and tribal status have received
greater attention over the last few decades (Maharatna, 2000; Murthi, Guio and Dreze, 1995; Plan-
ning Commission, 2011; Registrar General of India [RGI], 2011; Registrar General of India [RGI],
2014). Many research papers published in 2010–2015 predicted that India was unlikely to meet the
fourth and fifth United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) related to infant mortality
and maternal mortality set for the year of 2015 (Lozano, Wang, Foreman et al., 2011; Reddy, Prad-
han, Ghosh et al., 2012; United Nations [UN], 2015). Reality confirmed their predictions. Reddy et
al. (2012) argued that the fourth MDG target of achieving an IMR of 28 per thousand by 2015
would be achievable only by 2023–2024 if the declines follow exponential trends. They attributed
this delayed achievement of the fourth MDG to the high infant mortality in the poorer states such as
Madhya Pradesh/Chhattisgarh, Bihar/Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh/Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Assam.
Earlier demographic and anthropological literature sought to find factors affecting infant mortality
among tribes by focusing on these states individually. There were very few comprehensive studies
focusing on the entire region and comparing the factors affecting the survival status of infants
in both tribes and non-tribes. The present paper focuses on the impacts of different factors affecting
the tribes and non-tribes, leading to inequality in infant mortality in Central and Eastern India. It be-
comes relevant because this region is one of the major contributors to high infant mortality in India.
In view of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the goal of the Govern-
ment of India under the Twelfth Five Year Plan to reach the rate of 25 infant deaths per 1,000
live births by 2017, the present study attempts to understand infant mortality and its correlates
among tribal and non-tribal populations in Central and Eastern regions of the country which are
known for both high mortality and fertility. Below, we provide some basic information about the
distribution of the tribal population in India before we describe our data sources and methods.

1.2 Spatial Distribution of Tribal Population
The tribal population in the country is 104.5 million in the 2011 census, constituting 8.6% of the to-
tal population, with 90% living in rural areas (RGI, 2011). There are certain pockets in India where
tribes are much larger in number. Madhya Pradesh (14.6%), Maharashtra (10%), Odisha (9.1%),
Gujarat (8.5%), Rajasthan (8.8%), Jharkhand (8.2%), Chhattisgarh (7.5%), Andhra Pradesh (5.6%),
West Bengal (5%), and Karnataka (4%) are the states that have the largest shares of STs (RGI, 2011;
Ministry of Tribal Affairs [MOTA], 2013). These states accounted for more than 80% of the total ST
population of the country; Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh alone contributed
40% (Marwar and Jain, 1997). Apart from North-Eastern states, Madhya Pradesh (21.1%), Jhark-
hand (26.2%), Odisha (22.8%), and Chhattisgarh (30.6%) are the only states in the country where the
tribal population accounted for more than 20% of the state total population (RGI, 2011). These four
states score low on demographic and developmental indicators. For example, Madhya Pradesh,
which is the second largest state in India, contributes the most to the infant deaths (RGI, 2014) in
the country. These four states belong to the low development states category in the Human Devel-
opment Index for the country (Planning Commission, 2011).
Though the reduction in infant mortality in the region in the last 15 years is impressive, it is still
high in view of the national estimates (44 infant deaths per 1,000 live births) and mortality differen-
tials exist with the tribal dominated areas of India. Belonging to a social group, however, is not an
independent risk factor for mortality; its effect on mortality appears to be moderated through other

28 International Journal of Population Studies | 2016, Volume 2, Issue 2