Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya has released the National Report of the fifth round of National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5).

The report comprises of detailed information on key domains of population, health and family welfare and associated domains like characteristics of the population; fertility; family planning; infant and child mortality; maternal and child health; nutrition and anaemia; morbidity and healthcare; women’s empowerment etc.

Key results of NFHS-5 indicate that India has made significant progress in population control measures in recent times. The Total Fertility Rates (TFR), an average number of children per women, has further declined from 2.2 to 2.0 at the national level between NFHS-4 & 5.

There are only five States in India, which are above replacement level of fertility of 2.1. They are Bihar (2.98), Meghalaya (2.91), Uttar Pradesh (2.35), Jharkhand (2.26) Manipur (2.17).

In NFHS-5, more than three-fourths (77%) children age 12-23 months were fully immunized, compared with 62 percent in NFHS-4. Full vaccination coverage among children ranges from 57 percent in Nagaland to 95 percent in DNH & DD. Odisha (91%), Tamil Nadu (89%), and West Bengal (88%) also have shown relatively higher immunization coverage.

NFHS-6, which is scheduled to be conducted during 2023-24, propose to cover various new domain areas, which include COVID-19 hospitalization and distress financing, COVID-19 vaccinations, Utilization of health services –Health and wellness centre, health insurance/ health financing, digital literacy, knowledge of anaemia, Hepatitis B &C, Syphilis etc.”

Unlike in previous rounds, NFHS-6 will adopt Urban Frame Survey (UFS, 2012-17) of National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) as a sampling frame for urban area.