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A Critical Appraisal of NFHS-5 Data on Maternal Health Indicators: Trends and Implications for India


Affiliations
1 Scientist E, Department of Operational Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (NIRRH), JM Street, Parel, Mumbai – 400012, Maharashtra, India
2 Scientist E and Head, Department of Biostatistics, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (NIRRH), JM Street, Parel, Mumbai – 400012, Maharashtra, India
     

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The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data is useful in setting benchmarks and examining the progress of various health indicators over time. The main objective of the present paper is to critically review the findings of NFHS-5 and NFHS-4 regarding the trends on maternal health indicators and implications for India. Data from NFHS-5 (First round 2019- 2020) and NFHS-4 (2015-16) for 17 states and five Union territories (UTs) pertaining to maternal health indicators was extracted from the factsheets. Trends and implications in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 have been critically appraised. Substantial improvement in maternal health indicators in NFHS-5 over NFHS-4 is noted; however, there is a lot of interstate variation. NFHS-5 findings indicate that the percentage of women in the age group 15-19 years, already mothers or pregnant, has increased in four states while the percentage of mothers who had antenatal checkup in first trimester has increased in 12 states. Percentage of those with anaemia during pregnancy has increased from 15 to 17 states in NFHS-5 as compared to NFHS-4. Institutional births are over 90% in 14 states while only three states have below 79%. Out of pocket expenditure (OOPE) per delivery at public health facilities has increased in 12 states over the time period and it is above 5000 INR in 8 states. In India, improvement in maternal health indicators can be achieved by increasing quality of care, strengthening the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), skilled birth attendants training program, reduction of anaemia among pregnant women and reduction in OOPE per delivery at public health facilities.

Keywords

NFHS 5, NFHS 4, Maternal, Indicators, India.
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  • NFHS - 5 Fact Sheets for Key Indicators [Internet]. [Accessed on 12th January 2021]. Available from:http://rchiips.org/NFHS/NFHS-5_FCTS/NFHS-5%20State%20Factsheet%20Compendium_Phase-I.pdf

  • United Nations [Internet]. Department of Economic and Social Affairs Disability. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Disability. [Accessed on 12th January 2021]. Available from: https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/about-us/sustainable-development-goals-sdgs-and-disability.html

  • National Health Mission [Internet]. [Accessed on 13th January 2021]. Available from:https://nhm.gov.in/

  • Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. National Health Policy 2017 [Internet].[Accessed on 13th January 2021]. Available from: https://www.nhp.gov.in/ nhpfiles/national_health_policy_2017.pdf

  • Sample Registration System. Office of the Registrar General, India. Special bulletin on maternal mortality in India 2016 18 [Internet]. July 2020 [Accessed on 23rd January 2021]. Available from: https://censusindia.gov.in/vital_statistics/SRS_Bulletins/MMR%20Bulletin%202016-18.pdf


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  • A Critical Appraisal of NFHS-5 Data on Maternal Health Indicators: Trends and Implications for India

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Authors

Ragini Kulkarni
Scientist E, Department of Operational Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (NIRRH), JM Street, Parel, Mumbai – 400012, Maharashtra, India
Shahina Begum
Scientist E and Head, Department of Biostatistics, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (NIRRH), JM Street, Parel, Mumbai – 400012, Maharashtra, India

Abstract


The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data is useful in setting benchmarks and examining the progress of various health indicators over time. The main objective of the present paper is to critically review the findings of NFHS-5 and NFHS-4 regarding the trends on maternal health indicators and implications for India. Data from NFHS-5 (First round 2019- 2020) and NFHS-4 (2015-16) for 17 states and five Union territories (UTs) pertaining to maternal health indicators was extracted from the factsheets. Trends and implications in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 have been critically appraised. Substantial improvement in maternal health indicators in NFHS-5 over NFHS-4 is noted; however, there is a lot of interstate variation. NFHS-5 findings indicate that the percentage of women in the age group 15-19 years, already mothers or pregnant, has increased in four states while the percentage of mothers who had antenatal checkup in first trimester has increased in 12 states. Percentage of those with anaemia during pregnancy has increased from 15 to 17 states in NFHS-5 as compared to NFHS-4. Institutional births are over 90% in 14 states while only three states have below 79%. Out of pocket expenditure (OOPE) per delivery at public health facilities has increased in 12 states over the time period and it is above 5000 INR in 8 states. In India, improvement in maternal health indicators can be achieved by increasing quality of care, strengthening the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), skilled birth attendants training program, reduction of anaemia among pregnant women and reduction in OOPE per delivery at public health facilities.

Keywords


NFHS 5, NFHS 4, Maternal, Indicators, India.

References