According to WHO and UNICEF definitions, Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is defined as the number of deaths of children under how many years of age per 1000 live births in a given year?

Explanation

## Definition of Infant Mortality Rate **Key Point:** IMR is the number of deaths of infants (children aged 0–11 months, i.e., under 1 year of age) per 1000 live births in a given calendar year. ### Distinction from Other Mortality Indicators | Indicator | Age Group | Definition | | --- | --- | --- | | **Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)** | Under 1 year | Deaths in infants per 1000 live births | | **Child Mortality Rate (CMR)** | 1–4 years | Deaths in children aged 1–4 years per 1000 live births | | **Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR)** | Under 5 years | Deaths in children under 5 years per 1000 live births | | **Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR)** | 0–28 days | Deaths in first 28 days per 1000 live births | **High-Yield:** IMR is a sensitive indicator of the overall health, nutrition, and socioeconomic status of a population. It is one of the most important vital statistics used for international comparison and health programme evaluation. ### India's IMR Context **Clinical Pearl:** India's IMR has declined significantly over the past two decades (from ~55 in 2005 to ~28 in 2021), reflecting improvements in maternal health, immunization coverage, and neonatal care. However, it remains higher than many neighbouring countries and is a key focus area for the National Health Mission. [cite:Park 26e Ch 3]