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More than half of country's women, kids still anaemic: Survey
-PTI

Anaemia remains widespread in the country as more than half of the children in 10 out of 15 states are still anaemic, the latest national health survey released by the Union Health Ministry today said.

The first phase of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) for 2015-16 which covered 13 states and two UTs also revealed that more than half of women were also found to beanaemic in eleven states and UTs.

However on other parameters, the Union Health Ministry asserted that the findings revealed "promising" improvements in maternal and child health and nutrition.

Thefirst phase of the survey included Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Haryana,Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and two Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Puducherry.

"Anaemia has also declined but still remains widespread. More than half of children are anaemic in ten of the 15 States and UTs. Similarly, more than half of women are anaemic in eleven states/UTs.

"Over-nutrition continues to be a health issue for adults. At least 3 in 10 women are overweight or obese in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu," the survey said.

Noting that poor nutrition is less common than reported in the last round of the survey, it said that fewerchildren under five years of age are now found to be stunted, showing intake of improved nutrition.

"In nine states/UTs, less than one-third of children are found too short for their age. While this reveals a distinct improvement since the previous survey, it is found that in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Meghalaya more than 40 per cent of children are stunted. Wasting is still very high by international standards in all of the states and UTs," the survey said.

Data collection for the second phase states and UTs is currently ongoing. The2015-16 NFHS-4 is the fourth in a series of national surveys.

Forstates like Haryana, the sex ratio of the total population (females per1,000 males) was 876 which was a decline from the last survey where it stood at 897.

The survey also showed that women in the first phase states and UTs are having fewer children.

"Thetotal fertility rates or the average number of children per woman, range from 1.2 in Sikkim to 3.4 in Bihar. All first phase states/UTs except Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Meghalaya have either achieved or maintained replacement level of fertility- a major achievement in the past decade," it said.

The NFHS-4 said that married women are less likely to be using modern family planning in eight of the first phase states/UTs and there has been any increase in the use of modern family planning methods only in the States of Meghalaya, Haryana, and West Bengal.

The decline, it said is highest in Goa followed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Despite the decline, about half or more married women are using modern family planning in eight of the 15 states/UTs, it said.

The NFHS-4 results show that in 15 states/UTs fewer children are dying in infancy and early childhood.

"Afterthe last round of NFHS in 2005-06, infant mortality has declined in allfirst phase states/UTs for which trend data are available. All 15 states/UTs have rates below 51 deaths per 1,000 live births, although there is considerable variation among the states/UTs.

"Infant mortality rates range from a low of 10 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands toa high of 51 deaths per 1000 live births in Madhya Pradesh," it said.

Notingthat better care for women during pregnancy and childbirth contributes to reduction of maternal deaths and improved child survival, the latest survey said that almost all mothers have received antenatal care for their most recent pregnancy and increasing numbers of women are receiving the recommended four or more visits by the service providers.

"Moreand more women now give birth in health care facilities and rates have more than doubled in some states in the last decade.

"More than nine in ten recent births took place in health care facilities in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Puducherry,Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, providing safer environments for mothers and new-borns," it said.

The survey said that full immunisation coverage among children age 12-23 months varies widely in the first phase states and UTs.

"Atleast six out of ten children have received full immunisation in 12 of the 15 states and UTs. In Goa, West Bengal, Sikkim and Puducherry more than four-fifths of the children have been fully immunised.

"Since the last round of NFHS, the coverage of full immunisation among children has increased substantially," it said.

Notingthat Indian families in the first phase households are more inclined touse improved water and sanitation facilities, the survey said that overtwo-thirds of households in every state and UT have access to an improved source of drinking water.

Also more than 90 percent households have access to an improved source of drinking water in nine of the 15 states/UTs.

"Morethan 50 percent of households have access to improved sanitation facilities in all first phase except Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

"Useof clean cooking fuel, which reduces the risk of respiratory illness and pollution, varies widely among the first phase states/UTs, ranging from only about 18 per cent of households in Bihar to more than 70 percent of households in Tamil Nadu and more than 80 per cent of households in Puducherry and Goa," it said.

NFHS-4 is the first of the NFHS series that collects data in each of India's 29 States and all 7 Union Territories and for the first time, will provide estimates of most indicators at the district level for all 640 districts of the country included in the 2011 Census.

In NFHS-4, women aged 15-49 years and men aged 15-54 years are interviewed. When the survey is completed throughout the country, approximately 570,000 households wouldbe covered for information.