The NFHS is now in its sixth round. NFHS‑6 adds new biomarkers like Hepatitis B/C but the core concern – child health and development – remains unchanged. This article summarises the key trends for UPSC aspirants.
Key Developments (NFHS‑6 vs. earlier rounds)
- Teenage marriage fell from ~54% in NFHS‑1 to ~20% in NFHS‑6. State variation is stark – West Bengal (36%), Bihar (35%), Rajasthan (34%) versus Kerala (3%).
- Teenage pregnancy, reported at 7% in NFHS‑5, is expected to be around 5% in NFHS‑6.
- Women with low Body‑Mass Index dropped from 36% (NFHS‑2) to 19.7% (NFHS‑6).
- Anaemia in pregnant women stays above 50% since NFHS‑4; only 38% receive the target 180‑day iron‑folic‑acid supplement (up from 26% in NFHS‑5).
- Consanguineous marriages affect 11% of births nationally (NFHS‑5); southern states report >25%.
- Under‑five underweight prevalence remains around 32% nationwide, with Jharkhand (41%) and Madhya Pradesh (40%) worst‑affected.
- Full vaccination coverage rose to 87.1% from 35% in the first NFHS.
Important Facts on Child Health
Under‑five children who are underweight remain at ~32%, showing limited progress despite economic growth. School attendance is high for ages 6‑10 (95%) but drops to 70% for ages 15‑17. Parental education levels have improved: 46.4% of women and 54.6% of men have >10 years of schooling.
Exam Relevance
These data intersect with several GS papers. Teenage marriage and anaemia are critical for questions on health indicators, gender, and social welfare schemes. Consanguineous marriage touches on cultural practices and public health. The persistence of child undernutrition and vaccination gaps are directly relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals and the National Health Mission.
Way Forward
Economic measures alone cannot close the gaps. Strengthening parental education through adult literacy drives, enforcing the legal age of marriage, and expanding iron‑folic‑acid distribution are essential. States with high consanguinity need targeted genetic counseling. Finally, timely release of the full NFHS‑6 report and survey instruments will aid researchers and policymakers in fine‑tuning interventions.