The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is calculated by dividing the number of deaths of infants under one year of age during a specific period (usually a calendar year) by the number of live births during the same period, and then multiplying the result by 1,000. This provides a rate per 1,000 live births.
Here's a breakdown of the calculation:
Formula:
IMR = (Number of deaths of infants under one year / Number of live births) * 1,000
Steps:
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Determine the number of infant deaths: Identify the total number of infants who died before reaching one year of age within a defined geographic area (e.g., country, state, county) and time period (usually a calendar year).
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Determine the number of live births: Identify the total number of live births within the same geographic area and time period.
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Divide the number of infant deaths by the number of live births: This provides the proportion of infants who died before their first birthday.
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Multiply by 1,000: This converts the proportion into a rate per 1,000 live births, making the IMR easier to interpret and compare across different populations.
Example:
Suppose in a particular country, there were 500 infant deaths in a year, and there were 25,000 live births in the same year.
IMR = (500 / 25,000) 1,000
IMR = 0.02 1,000
IMR = 20
Therefore, the Infant Mortality Rate for that country in that year is 20 per 1,000 live births. This means that for every 1,000 babies born alive, 20 died before reaching their first birthday.
Importance of IMR:
The IMR is a key indicator of a population's overall health and well-being. It reflects various factors such as:
- Access to quality healthcare, including prenatal and postnatal care
- Nutritional status of mothers and infants
- Sanitation and hygiene practices
- Socioeconomic conditions
A higher IMR typically indicates poorer health conditions and a lower IMR indicates better health conditions.
