Table 1. Description of Variables.
| Variable description | Sources |
| Dependent Variable | |
| Under-5 Mortality Rate (Per 1000 live births) | AHS (2011) |
| Biophysical Variables | |
| Average Annual Temperature (°C) | SA, Various States (Web Services) |
| Annual Rainfall (in mm) | HD, IMD (2006–10) |
| Agricultural Variable | |
| Yield of total food grains (quintal./hectare) | DES, MoA, GoI |
| Geographic Variables | |
| Proportion of District within 2 km of a road | Calculated using GIS |
| Population Density (persons/sq. km) | Census, 2011 |
| Health Indicators | |
| Coverage Gap Index (A Composite Index based on reproductive and child health care) | DLHS- 3 (2007–08) |
| Proportion (%) of CHCs with Low Birth Weight Management | DLHS- 3 (2007–08) |
| No. of Newborn Care provided in PHCs | DLHS- 3 (2007–08) |
| Proportion (%) of HHs having Knowledge about Malaria Prevention | DLHS- 3 (2007–08) |
| Socioeconomic Variables | |
Per Capita Gross District Domestic Product ( ) [GDDPPC] |
DESD, Various State Governments |
| Proportion (%) of HHs having BPL Cards | DLHS- 3 (2007–08) |
| Proportion (%) of SC/ST Population | DLHS- 3 (2007–08) |
| Proportion (%) of HHs having access to Piped Water | DLHS- 3 (2007–08) |
| Female Literacy (%) | Census, 2011 |
| Proportion (%) of Urban Population | Census, 2011 |
AHS = Annual Health Survey; SA = Statistical Abstract; HD, IMD = Hydromet Division, India Meteorological Department; DES, MoA, GoI = The Directorate of Economics & Statistics (DES), Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India; GIS = Geographical Information System; DLHS = District Level Household and Facility Survey; DESD = The Directorate of Economics & Statistics Division; CHC = Community Health Center; PHC = Primary Health Center; SC/ST = Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes.