Fatherhood, Infant Deaths, MDG Goals and Population Policy Achievements in India: An Analysis of NFHS-3

Disha Tewari, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Niyati Joshi, Government of India

Reducing infant deaths is the prime objective of the Government of India to meet the commitment of MDG goal (4). This paper aims at analyzing levels of fatherhood and infant deaths in states with and without replacement levels of fertility. It also identifies the factors expediting the realization of MDG goal (4) and National Health Policy (2002) achievements through realization of fatherhood across North and South regions in India. Socio-economic and demographic differentials at various levels of fatherhood and its’ relationship to infant deaths have been analyzed using NFHS-3(2005-06) data. Using Logistic regression, the socio-economic and demographic factors explaining various components of fatherhood in two different regions have been analyzed. This paper suggests that states that have already reached replacement level of fertility would be able to realize MDG goals for infant deaths sooner than the rest of the states due to better realization of fatherhood in these states.