Socio-economic and Behavioural Factors Affecting Adult Mortality in India: An Analysis of Data from the National Family Health Surveys of 1992-1993 and 1998-1999 (NFHS I & II)

Nandita Saikia, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Mari P. N. Bhat, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

Scientific research on determinants of adult mortality in developing countries is hindered by lack of good quality of data .This is true in India because the coverage of the vital registration system of India is poor. Although data from Sample Registration System (SRS) appears to be valid, it provides limited information about the dead person. Unlike the SRS, the National Family Health Surveys of 1992-1993 and 1998-1999 (NFHS I & II) provide socio-economic characteristics, allowing for further analyses. This paper explores the determinants of adult mortality using NFHS data. The method of analysis is multivariate logistic regression for the adults of age grouop15-59. Results show higher likelihood of female death compared to male during adulthood. Socio-economic characteristics like standard of living, education, household size, dependency ratio, and nutritional status have strong impact on adult mortality. Behavioural characteristics viz. smoking, drinking alcohol and chewing tobacco are linked to higher adult mortality.