## Definition of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) **Key Point:** IMR is the number of deaths of infants under 1 year of age per 1000 live births in a given year. ### Standard WHO and Indian Definition The IMR specifically captures mortality in children **before completion of 1 year of age** (0–11 months, 29 days). This is a critical vital statistic used globally for: - Assessing child health and nutrition status - Evaluating effectiveness of maternal and child health programmes - International comparison of developmental indices ### Components of Child Mortality IMR comprises two sub-components: 1. **Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR):** Deaths in first 28 days of life per 1000 live births 2. **Post-neonatal Mortality Rate:** Deaths between 29 days and 11 months per 1000 live births **High-Yield:** IMR is one of the most sensitive indicators of a country's socioeconomic development and healthcare infrastructure. India's current IMR is approximately 28–30 per 1000 live births (varies by state). ### Clinical Pearl IMR is more sensitive to changes in healthcare delivery than crude death rate because it reflects the quality of prenatal care, institutional delivery, neonatal care, and nutrition in the first year of life.
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