Table 1 Exposure variables used in spatial modeling the infant mortality in nine high-focus states in India, AHS (2010–2011) and DLHS-3 (2007–2008)

Dependent

 IMR

Total infant deaths aged below 1 year per 1000 live births (infant deaths/total live births * 1000) (AHS 2010)

Independent

 ARI

The information on children suffering from ARI in respect of all the living children [last two outcomes of pregnancy(s) resulting in live births during the reference period, i.e., 2007–2009] during 15 days preceding the date the survey has been collected (AHS 2010)

 Diarrhea

The information on children suffering from diarrhea in respect of all the living children [last two outcomes of pregnancy(s) resulting in live births during the reference period, i.e., 2007–2009] during 15 days preceding the date the survey has been collected. (AHS 2010)

 Female work participation

Total female workers irrespective of type of work/total female population * 100 (Census 2011)

 Proportion of urban population

Total of urban population/total population * 100 (Census 2011)

Bottom wealth quintile

The wealth index is computed using household assets in AHS and used in this study. Lowest quintile is considered in the analysis as a proxy of low socioeconomic status (AHS 2010).

 Drainage facility

Includes both open and closed drainage available in a household (Census 2011)

 Drinking water from treated water

Includes drinking water from a treated/untreated source, covered well, and tube well/borehole/hand pump at the household level (Census 2011)

 Improved toilet facilities

Includes flush toilet, piped to a sewer system or a septic tank, and a pit with slab/ventilated improved pit

 Average Household Size

Number of members in a household (AHS 2010)

 Percentage of household with kachha house/electricity

Percentage of household with kachha house and electricity (Census 2011)

 Drinking water from a treated source

This is considered as the availability of drinking water from a treated source in a household. (Census 2011)

 Percentage of SC/ST

(Percentage of SC/total population) * 100 (Census 2011)

 Percentage of literate women

Defined using percentage of literate women in district (Census 2011)

 Percentage of safe delivery

Based on proportion of women’s reporting safe delivery (AHS, 2-11)

 Percentage of women with more than 3 ANC

Based on proportion of women’s reporting more than 3 ANC (DLHS-3)

 Percentage of children who received care within 24 h of birth (PNC)

Based on proportion of women’s receiving care within 24 h of birth (DLHS-3)

 Percentage of women availed JSY

Based on proportion of women’s receiving care within 24 h of birth (DLHS-3)

 Proportion of PHC functional 24 h in districts

Calculated based on facility information whether PHC functional 24 h. (DLHS-3)

 Distance to district hospital

Based on facility information distance to district hospital (DLHS-3)

 Percentage of PHC with labor room available in district

Information obtained from facility survey percentage of PHC having labor room (DLHS-3)

 Average population covered by PHC

Calculated based on facility information at PHC level (DLHS-3)