The correct answer is: a) Significantly lower.
The infant mortality rate (IMR) in Arunachal Pradesh is 32 per 1,000 live births, which is significantly lower than the national average of 52 per 1,000 live births. This is due to a number of factors, including the state’s relatively young population, its high literacy rate, and its strong focus on healthcare.
The IMR is a measure of the number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000 live births in a given year. It is a widely used indicator of the health of a population. A high IMR indicates that a large number of infants are dying before their first birthday, which can be due to a number of factors, including poverty, malnutrition, lack of access to healthcare, and poor sanitation.
The IMR in India has been declining steadily in recent years, but it is still one of the highest in the world. The national average of 52 per 1,000 live births is significantly higher than the average of 12 per 1,000 live births in developed countries.
There are a number of reasons for the high IMR in India. One reason is that India has a large population of poor people. Poverty can lead to malnutrition, which can make infants more susceptible to disease and death. Another reason is that India has a large rural population. Rural areas often have poor access to healthcare, which can make it difficult for infants to get the care they need if they become sick.
The government of India has taken a number of steps to reduce the IMR, including investing in healthcare, improving sanitation, and providing nutrition programs for pregnant women and infants. These efforts have helped to reduce the IMR, but it is still a major challenge for the country.
Arunachal Pradesh is a state in northeastern India. It is the largest state in India by area, but it has a relatively small population. The state has a high literacy rate and a strong focus on healthcare. These factors have helped to keep the IMR in Arunachal Pradesh significantly lower than the national average.