The sixth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6), conducted during 2023-24 across 715 districts, included data from 679,238 households. NFHS serves as a crucial source of health and demographic information at the district level in India. However, NFHS-6 has seen the omission of 43 indicators from its previous iteration, NFHS-5, with only 13 new indicators added.
Notable indicators that were excluded include various aspects of the population and household profiles, sex ratios, mortality rates, and family planning measures. For instance, detailed statistics on anaemia prevalence, child mortality rates, and maternal health indicators are no longer present in the NFHS-6 data. The government has indicated that these missing indicators may instead be monitored through specialized surveys, such as the Diet and Biomarkers Survey in India (DABS-I) for anaemia data and the Sample Registration System (SRS) for mortality indicators.
Government officials suggest the rationale behind these omissions lies in the availability of similar data from other reliable sources. For example, the information on mortality rates is already available through SRS, while disability data is reportedly captured in the National Sample Survey.
Despite the changes, NFHS remains vital for assessing health and demographic trends in India. However, the absence of some previously included metrics raises questions about the comprehensiveness of this latest round of data. Furthermore, no official timeline has been announced for the release of a detailed national report for NFHS-6, leaving uncertain whether the omitted indicators will be reintegrated in future updates.
Why this story matters
- The NFHS is a key tool for policy-making and public health evaluation in India.
Key takeaway
- NFHS-6 has excluded several key health indicators, raising concerns over data comprehensiveness.
Opposing viewpoint
- The government argues that data omissions allow for more specialized tracking through dedicated surveys, ensuring accurate monitoring.
