Question : NFHS-4

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has released the entire data of all States and Union Territories in the National Family Health Survey-4, (NFHS-4) if so, the details thereof in terms of various health parameters in comparison to NFHS-3 survey, State/UT-wise including Odisha;

(b) if not, the timeline fixed for timely completion of the survey; and

(c) the details for malnutrition, State/ UT-wise including Kerala along with the steps taken by the Government to eradicate Stunting and other forms of under-nutrition among children?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

(a) & (b): National Family Health Survey-4, (NFHS-4) is carried out in two phases. Field work of the States/UTs pertaining to first phase has been completed and key results published for 18 States and UTs. Field work of the States/UTs pertaining to second phase has commenced in January, 2016. Odisha is covered in the second phase. Ministry has fixed July, 2017 as the timeline for the completion of the survey. A statement showing some key health indicators from NFHS-4 in comparison to NFHS-3 survey, for 18 States/UTs is given at Annexure-I.

(c): State/ UT- wise data on nutritional status of children under 5 years of age from NFHS-4 for 18 States/ UTs are given at Annexure -II. The results of Kerala are not available because it is covered in the second phase of NFHS-4.
Various interventions are implemented under National Health Mission to improve nutritional status of children. These inter-alia include:
I. Promotion of appropriate infant and young child feeding practices during the Village Health and Nutrition Days. Awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding by Accredited social health activists (ASHAs) through home visits.
II. Treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition at special units called the Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres.
III. Specific program to prevent and combat micronutrient deficiencies of Vitamin A, Iron & Folic Acid. Vitamin A supplementation is provided for children till the age of 5 years. Under the recently launched National Iron plus Initiative, bi-weekly Iron & Folic Acid supplementation is provided to children from 6 to 60 months.

IV. Management of under-nutrition and common neonatal and childhood illnesses at community and facility level by training service providers in Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses.
Other schemes under different Ministries of Government of India, targeting improvement of nutritional status include Integrated Child Development Services, Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls, Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana, National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (Mid-Day Meal Programme) etc.