National Family Health Survey 2015/16 Finds Overall Improved Family Health

Key Findings of the NFHS 2015/16

• Nearly 30% of the Indian population is under 15 years and 10 percent of the population is
  aged over 60 years
• Most households have access to drinking water and electrification; however, around 40% households have no toilets and have to defecate in the open and only 44% households had access to clean cooking fuel
• More than half the households have pucca houses (houses made with high-quality materials throughout, including the floor, exterior walls and roof) and 35 percent have semi-pucca houses.
• Almost 70% of households have an Aadhar card and nearly 90% households have bank or post office account
• Literacy among men was higher than women and the proportion of women employed was significantly lower compared to men. Only half the population has not finished the average number of years of school education
• The average age of first marriage for women is 18.6 years and 24.5 years for men; incidence of consanguineous marriages is high in all southern states except Kerala
• Improved access to antenatal care of pregnant women and significant higher hospital deliveries compared to an earlier survey in 2005-06 and double the rate of cesarean sections
• Infant and child mortality has fallen since the last survey
• Over 20% percent of women and about 20 percent of men between 15 to 49 years are thin; a similar percentage is overweight or obese
• Tobacco and alcohol use is significantly higher in men aged 15-49 years compared to women
• Prevalence of hypertension in women and men was 15% and 11% respectively; random blood glucose was higher than 140 g/dl in 6% of women and 8% of men respectively
• Health examinations coverage among women such as breast examination, oral cavity or cervix examination was not very impressive
• The proportion of deaths due to non-medical causes (accidents, poisoning, violence, murder, or suicides) is higher among men (12%) than women (8%)
• Only 22% percent of young women and 32% of young men age 15-24 have proper knowledge about HIV/AIDS or its prevention.
• Nearly 35% men between 15-24 years reported having higher-risk intercourse (sex with a
  non-marital, non-cohabitating partner) in the 12 months prior to the survey, compared with 2% women in the same age group.
• HIV testing has improved markedly since the last survey; the prevalence of HIV in urban areas is double that in rural areas
• Prevalence of HIV is low between 15-24 years and increases thereafter up to 39 years and again declines
• Women's empowerment is still lacking with the proportion of women who work (31%) or are allowed to participate in health decisions and key family decision making (35%) still remaining quite low
• Women are still subject to domestic violence both physical, emotional and sexual violence from the spouse although it has decreased marginally since the previous survey; the percentage of women seeking help following spousal violence has dropped from 24% previously to 14% currently.

India Shows Improved Family Health Over a 10-Year Period: National Survey
Results of the first phase of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) 2015-16 were released by the Union Health Ministry.

1. National Family Health Survey 2015 - (http://vikaspedia.in/health/health-directory/national-family-health-survey-2015-16#section-6)
2. The National Family Health Survey: 2015-16 - (https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR339/FR339.pdf)
3. A review of national health surveys in India - (https://www.who.int/bulletin/online_first/BLT.15.158493.pdf)