Factors Influencing High Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in Indiana

Infant mortality rate, or IMR, is a measure of the number of deaths that occur in the first year of life per 1,000 babies born. The IMR in the state of Indiana, 7.67, is much higher than the national IMR, which is 5.58 (Jang, 2022; Stratton, 2014). This literature review, including academic literature and government articles, discusses the various factors influencing the high Indiana IMR, including rurality, race, breastfeeding, and access to obstetric and child medical care. Proposed interventions to alleviate the high IMR in Indiana focus on income, education, and wealth. Finally, this review ends with an acknowledgment of the need for a holistic approach to addressing IMR because of the intersectional relationship between different influencing factors.