National Family Health Survey – Key Findings of the Latest Report

National Family Health Survey Latest News

• The Union Health Ministry has released the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) findings, showing significant progress in maternal and child health alongside a sharp rise in obesity and diabetes among Indian adults.

About the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)

• The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a large-scale, multi-round household survey conducted across India to provide reliable data on population, health, nutrition, and family welfare indicators. 
• It is one of the most comprehensive sources of health data in the country and plays a crucial role in shaping public health policies.

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Background and Institutional Framework

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
• Nodal Agency: International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, conducts the survey on behalf of the MoHFW.
• First Round: Conducted in 1992-93
• Latest Round: NFHS-6, conducted in 2023-24, is the first survey after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coverage and Methodology

• NFHS-6 covered approximately 6.79 lakh households across 715 districts in all States and Union Territories, except Manipur.
• It collects data on indicators such as: 
  • Fertility and contraception
  • Maternal and child health
  • Nutritional status
  • Vaccination coverage
  • Non-communicable diseases
  • Domestic violence
  • Women’s empowerment
  • Sanitation and hygiene

Key Findings of the NFHS-6

• Maternal and Child Health: The survey recorded significant progress in maternal and child health indicators:
• Institutional Deliveries
  • Institutional deliveries rose to 90.6% from 88.6% in NFHS-5 (2019-21).
  • Reflects sustained expansion of public healthcare and schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA).
• Caesarean Section Deliveries
  • C-section deliveries rose sharply to 27.2% from 21.5%.
  • In private healthcare facilities, the rate jumped to 54.1% from 47.4%.
  • In public health facilities, it rose to 16.9% from 14.3%.
  • In urban areas, the rate stands at 40%, far exceeding the WHO optimal threshold of 10-15%.
• Antenatal Care
  • 95.9% of pregnant women received antenatal care.
  • 76.2% received care in the first trimester (up from 70%).
  • Mothers receiving at least four antenatal visits rose from 58.5% to 65.2%.
• Maternal Nutrition
  • Mothers consuming iron-folic acid (IFA) supplements for 100+ days rose from 44.1% to 54.9%.
  • Those consuming IFA supplements for 180+ days rose from 26% to 37.8%.
• Child Nutrition and Health
  • Improvements in Child Nutrition
    • Stunting among children under 5 declined from 35.5% to 29.3%.
    • Severe wasting dropped from 7.7% to 5.2%.
    • Underweight children declined marginally from 32.1% to 31.8%
  • Child Health
    • Acute respiratory infection symptoms fell from 2.8% to 1.9%.
    • Severe diarrhoea prevalence dropped to 0.5%.
  • Breastfeeding
    • 95.6% of infants under six months were being breastfed during the survey period.
• Vaccination Coverage
  • Full vaccination coverage among children aged 12-23 months rose from 83.8% to 87.1%.
  • 95.6% of children received most vaccinations through public health facilities.
  • Rotavirus vaccination coverage rose dramatically from 36.4% to 85.4%.
  • Second dose of measles-containing vaccine coverage increased from 58.6% to 71.8%.
• Fertility and Contraception
  • Total Fertility Rate (TFR) held steady at 2.0, just below the replacement threshold of 2.1.
  • Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) rose from 66.7% to 69.1%.
• Menstrual Hygiene
  • Use of hygienic methods of menstrual protection among women aged 15-24 years rose from 77.6% to 79.2%.

Rising Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases

• The NFHS-6 has flagged a concerning rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and lifestyle-related risks, marking a significant shift in India’s health landscape.
• Sharp Rise in Obesity
  • Women
    • The proportion of women aged 15-49 who were overweight or obese rose from 24% to 30.7%.
    • Urban areas: 42.8% of women are overweight or obese.
    • Rural areas: 25.5% of women are overweight or obese.
  • Men
    • The proportion of men aged 15-49 who were overweight or obese rose from 22.9% to 27.3%.
    • Urban areas: 36.3% of men are overweight or obese.
    • Rural areas: 23% of men are overweight or obese.
• Rising Diabetes Prevalence
  • Men
    • The proportion of men with high blood sugar (>140 mg/dl) or taking medication rose from 15.6% to 20.9%.
    • Urban areas: 23.9% of men affected.
    • Rural areas: 19.7% of men affected.
  • Women
    • The proportion of women with high blood sugar rose from 13.5% to 17.8%.
    • Urban areas: 21.9% of women affected.
    • Rural areas: 16.2% of women affected.

Significance and Implications

• Progress Areas
  • Strengthening of public healthcare systems and maternal health programmes.
  • Improved vaccination coverage indicates the success of Mission Indradhanush and the Universal Immunisation Programme.
  • Better antenatal care reflects effective implementation of JSY, JSSK, and PMSMA.
  • Declining stunting and wasting show the impact of POSHAN Abhiyaan.
• Areas of Concern
  • Excessive C-section deliveries, especially in private facilities, indicate potential overmedicalisation and the need for stricter regulation.
  • Rising obesity and diabetes signal a public health crisis requiring urgent intervention.
  • Urban-rural disparities in lifestyle diseases highlight changing food habits and sedentary lifestyles.
  • India’s dual burden of malnutrition, i.e. persistent undernutrition among children (stunting, wasting, underweight) and rising overnutrition (obesity) among adults. This requires integrated nutrition strategies.

Source: TH | IE | Print