India got healthier in last 10 yrs: Study

India's health indicators show significant improvement over the last decade with a decline in

infant mortality complimented by a better sex ratio, more institutional deliveries and wider

vaccine coverage.

The population rate is also a showing positive change, according to the new set of

government data gathered during the fourth phase of National Family Health Survey .“The

results show that if we invest and design good programmes in health, results will follow,“

health secretary C K Mishra said.

Haryana projected a commendable change in its sex ra tio at birth. While 762 females were

born per 1,000 males in Haryana during NFHS 3 (2005-06), the ratio improved to 836

females per 1,000 males in the survey in 2014-15.

But the sex ratio at birth improved marginally nationally with 919 females born against 1,000

males during the fourth phase of the survey . During 2005-06, 914 females were born per

1,000 males. India's total fertility rate also declined to 2.2 from 2.7 over last decade, inching

closer to the replacement level of 2.1. Overall, the level declined by 1.2 children per woman

from NFHS 1 to NFHS 4. The data shows Uttar Pradesh showcased maximum decline in

TFR, which dropped from 2.7 to 1.1in last eight years.

Infant mortality rate declined from 57 to 41 per 1,000 live births between the third and the

fourth phase of the survey. The institutional deliveries witnessed a dramatic growth of 40

percentage points from 38.7% in NFHS 3 to 78.9% in NFHS 4. Institutional births in public

health facilities increased by 34.1% during the period.

The immunisation coverage across the country improved to almost 70% of fully immunised

children at present from 44% in 2005-06.

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.Percentage of under-weight children declined from

42.5% to 35.7% in eight years.

C-sections falling in govt hospitals

C-section deliveries are increasing rapidly in private hospitals across the country, whereas

public hospitals have recorded a decline over the last decade, shows data from the fourth

phase of the National Family Health Survey. In private hospitals, C-section surgeries

increased from 27.7% in NFHS3 to 40.9% in the fourth phase, whereas in public hospitals it

declined from 15.2% to 11.9% during the period.

Source: The Indian Express