India has become healthier over the last decade: National Family Health Survey

A lot has happened over the decade in the Indian history. Among various aspects which have transformed for better, India’s health quotient has grabbed out attention too.

Over the last decade, India’s health indicators show significant improvement with a decline in infant mortality complimented by a better sex ratio, more institutional deliveries and wider vaccine coverage.

Formidable improvement in various health parameters clubbed with sharp decline in infant mortality, upscale in vaccine coverage and a better sex ratio, all these factors have contributed towards a healthier India.

According to the fourth phase of National Family Health Survey reports, country’s population rate has also ameliorated. “The results show that if we invest and design good programmes in health, results will follow,” health secretary C K Mishra said.

Here are some facts presenting in the fourth phase of National Family Health Survey:

1. The infant mortality rate dipped to 41% from 57%.

2. Institutional deliveries witnessed an upward trend of close to 40%. It was earlier 38.7% but has now touched 78.9%.

3. Immunisational coverage also increased by a great margin. Across the country, the immunization coverage saw a massive growth. While it was 44% in 2005-06, it is now hovering around higher levels of 70%. What a feat, indeed!

4. India recorded a 10 percentage point decline in stunting from 48% during the third phase of the survey to 38.4% in the fourth round.

5. Stunted growth too observed a decline. The country recorded a 10% decline from 48% to 38.4%, records of third and fourth phase respectively.

6. Records of under-weight children declined from 42.5% to 35.7% in eight years.

7. Haryana too witnessed an incredible change in Sex Ratio at birth. During NFHS 3 (2005-06), 762 females were born per 1,000 males in the state. The ratio improved to 836 females per 1,000 males in the survey in 2014-15.

8. However in the fourth phase of the survey, the sex ratio at birth improved marginally nationally with 919 females born against 1,000 males. During 2005-06, 914 females were born per 1,000 males.

9. India’s total fertility rate also slashed to 2.2 from 2.7 over last decade.

10. Uttar Pradesh witnessed an impressive drop in total fertility rate over the last 8 years. The state showcased maximum decline in TFR, which dropped from 2.7 to 1.1.

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