The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conducted the NFHS-6 (2023-24) through the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai. The survey, covering 715 districts (excluding Manipur), indicates significant progress in maternal and child health indicators alongside rising surgical interventions.
Maternal Health and Birth Trends
- Institutional Deliveries: Increased to 90.6% (from 88.6%).
- Antenatal Care (ANC): Women completing ≥4 visits rose to 65.2%.
- IFA Supplementation: Consumption for 180+ days reached 37.8%.
- C-Section Surge: The national C-section rate reached 24.3%, with private facilities averaging 49.8%. States like Telangana (62.1%) and Andhra Pradesh (56.4%) recorded exceptionally high rates, well above the WHO-recommended 10-15%.
Child Nutrition and Immunization
- Malnutrition Decline: Stunting dropped to 29.3% (from 35.5%) and Severe Wasting to 5.2% (from 7.7%).
- Feeding Practices: Exclusive breastfeeding reached 95.6%; timely complementary feeding improved to 60.1%.
- Immunization: Full coverage for children (12-23 months) rose to 82.6%. Rotavirus vaccine uptake surged significantly to 85.4%.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Nodal Agency: IIPS, Mumbai, under the Union Health Ministry.
- Key Definitions:
- Stunting: Chronic undernutrition (low height-for-age).
- Wasting: Acute malnutrition (low weight-for-height).
- Government Initiatives:
- Poshan 2.0: Integrated nutrition support.
- Mission Indradhanush: Aims for 90% full immunization.
- PMMVY: Direct benefit transfer for pregnant women.