The latest data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS 2019-21) sheds significant light on various social and health issues impacting women in India. Released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, this data serves as a basis for evaluating the current scenario, progress over time, and areas that require further improvement.
Child Marriage Trends
The NFHS data revealed a decline in the percentage of women aged 20-24 who got married before 18 – down from 27% to 23% over the past five years. Despite the decrease, child marriage remains a problem, leading to higher fertility rates, poor maternal and child health, and lower social status for women. It is most prevalent in West Bengal and Bihar, with approximately 41% of such cases. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana have seen the maximum reduction in underage marriages.
Anaemia Epidemic
Anaemia has seen an increase among women aged 15-49 and men, with 57% of women and 25% of men being anaemic in 2019-21. A steep rise of 8.5% was observed among children aged 6-59 months. West Bengal and Kerala show the highest and lowest prevalence of anaemic women among the larger states, respectively. Child anaemia rates worsened predominantly in Assam, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.
Improvements in Amenities
Except for Manipur, Meghalaya, Assam, and Jharkhand, over 90% of people in all other states have access to improved drinking water sources. Bihar, Jharkhand, and a few other states have almost doubled this access since 2015-16, although they remain below the 75% mark.
Women Property Ownership
Over the past five years, there’s been a significant dip in the number of women who own property (either alone or jointly) in Delhi. The percentage dropped from 35% in 2015-16 to 22.7% in 2020-21.
Financial Tools and Internet Access for Women
The number of women with bank accounts rose by 8% and those who own and use a mobile phone increased by 7%. However, internet usage among women stood at 64% compared to 85% of men.
Greater Participation in Household Decisions
Women’s participation in household decisions, including healthcare, major purchases, and visits to family or relatives, has risen from 74% in 2015-16 to 92% now.
Decrease in Out-of-Pocket Expenditure
The average out-of-pocket expenditure per delivery in a public health facility decreased from Rs 8,518 to Rs 2,548 over five years, indicating a significant improvement.
Obesity on the Rise
Obesity rates have increased among both men and women. With 41.3% of women and 38% of men classified as overweight or obese, men have seen a faster rise in obesity rates.
Persistent Child Malnutrition
Despite a decrease in the share of under-five children who were stunted, wasted, or underweight, every third child remains chronically undernourished, and every fifth child is acutely malnourished. Stunting was most prevalent in Meghalaya, followed by Bihar while Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand registered declines of 5-7% since 2015-16. In terms of wasting, Bihar had the highest prevalence of underweight children, followed closely by Gujarat.
About National Family Health Survey (NFHS)
The NFHS is a large-scale, multi-round survey conducted throughout India. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, collaborates with the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) Mumbai and several Field Organizations (FO) for survey implementation. The data collected in each round aims to provide essential information on health and family welfare, including fertility rates, infant and child mortality, reproductive health, nutrition, anaemia, and the quality and utilization of health and family planning services. The funding for different rounds is provided by various organizations including USAID, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, UNFPA, and MoHFW (Government of India).
Way Forward
The NFHS findings underscore the urgent need for action in specific areas such as girls’ education and the dire nutritional status of women and children. It’s imperative to mobilize integrated and coordinated efforts from all health institutions, academia, and partners involved directly or indirectly with the health care services. This can ensure that these services become accessible, affordable, and acceptable to all.
