National Family Health Survey
Relevant for sociology optional Paper- 2 & GS Mains Paper- 2
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a large-scale survey conducted in India by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The survey is designed to provide reliable and up-to-date information on population, health, and nutrition status in India. The survey is conducted in various rounds with the latest being NFHS-5 conducted between 2019 and 2021. The NFHS survey provides valuable information on key indicators such as infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, child nutrition, and family planning practices, among others. This information helps policymakers and public health professionals to develop and implement effective policies and programs to improve the health and well-being of the Indian population.
The NFHS-5 survey covered all the 36 states and union territories of India and collected data from a representative sample of households. The survey was conducted in two phases with the first phase being a household survey, and the second phase being a biomarker survey. The household survey collected information on household characteristics, education, health, and family planning practices. The biomarker survey collected information on the health status of individuals, including measurements of height, weight, and hemoglobin levels.
One of the key findings of the NFHS-5 survey was a decline in infant mortality rate (IMR) in India. The IMR in India decreased from 41 per 1000 live births in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 30 per 1000 live births in NFHS-5. This is a significant improvement and is indicative of the effectiveness of various policies and programs aimed at improving child health in India. However, the IMR in some states such as Bihar and Madhya Pradesh remains high, highlighting the need for more targeted interventions in these areas.
Another important finding of the NFHS-5 survey was the improvement in maternal health indicators. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in India decreased from 174 per 100,000 live births in NFHS-4 to 113 per 100,000 live births in NFHS-5. This is a significant improvement, but India still has a long way to go to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing the MMR to less than 70 per 100,000 live births. The survey also found an increase in the percentage of institutional deliveries, which is a positive development as institutional deliveries are associated with better maternal and child health outcomes.
The NFHS-5 survey also provided valuable information on the nutrition status of children in India. The survey found that the percentage of children under five who are stunted (low height-for-age) decreased from 38.4% in NFHS-4 to 34.7% in NFHS-5. Similarly, the percentage of children under five who are wasted (low weight-for-height) decreased from 21% in NFHS-4 to 17.3% in NFHS-5. However, the percentage of children under five who are overweight or obese increased from 9.4% in NFHS-4 to 10.7% in NFHS-5. This highlights the need for more targeted interventions to address the issue of childhood obesity in India.
The NFHS-5 survey also provided information on family planning practices in India. The survey found that the percentage of currently married women who use modern methods of contraception increased from 53.5% in NFHS-4 to 56.3% in NFHS-5. This is a positive development as family planning is essential for improving maternal and child health outcomes. However, the survey also found that the unmet need for family planning among currently married women remains high, indicating the need for more targeted interventions to increase the uptake of family planning services.
Overall, the NFHS-5 survey provides valuable information on key indicators of health and nutrition status in India, and highlights both the progress made in improving health outcomes in the country, as well as the areas where more work is needed. The information provided by the survey is essential for policymakers and public health professionals in developing and implementing effective policies and programs to improve the health and well-being of the Indian population. By identifying areas of concern and tracking progress over time, the NFHS survey plays a critical role in monitoring the health status of the Indian population and ensuring that efforts to improve health outcomes are targeted and effective. Overall, the NFHS-5 survey is a vital tool for advancing public health in India and is an important step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being.
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