NEW DELHI: Dr Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family welfare (MoHFW), released the fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS) on December 12. The survey details information on Indian states and union territories’ (UT) population, health, and nutrition.
The survey revealed that the mortality rate of infants and those under five years of age has fallen in 18 states and UTs out of the total 22 surveyed. However, 16 of the states surveyed reported rise in the percentage of children who are under five years of age who are severely underweight and wasted (low weight for height among children under five).
In comparison to data from the survey of 2015-16, this year’s survey registered a rise in the percentage of children under five years of age who are stunted. Around 20 states and UTs have recorded increase in the percentage of children under five years of age with acute malnutrition, according to NFHS-5.
The MoHFW said that that substantial improvement in maternal and child care over NFHS-4 (2015-16) was recorded in the present survey, and added that women’s empowerment indicators, including women with bank account, also portray considerable progress. It also found considerable improvement in vaccination coverage among children aged 12-23 months across all states/UTs.