NEW DELHI: India’s institutional birth rate rose from 88.6 per cent in 2019-21 to 90.6 per cent in 2023-24, moving closer to universal coverage, according to the National Family Health Survey-6 released on Friday.
Institutional deliveries refer to the process of giving birth in a licensed health care facility under the supervision of professionals. This practice significantly reduces maternal and neonatal mortality by providing access to emergency obstetric care, sanitary conditions and specialized medical equipment.
According to NFHS-6 data for 2023-2024, 95.9 percent of pregnant women received antenatal care, while the proportion of those receiving antenatal care in the first trimester increased from 70 percent to 76.2 percent.
The proportion of mothers receiving at least four primary health care visits also increased from 58.5 percent to 65.2 percent, reflecting a stronger continuity of maternal health care services.
NFHS-6 was conducted during 2023-24 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with International Institute of Population Sciences, Mumbai, as the nodal agency.
The survey covers nearly 6.79 lakh households in 715 districts, provides vital evidence on population, health, nutrition and household well-being indicators, and supports evidence-based planning and program implementation up to the district level.
The data showed that the institutional birth rate increased from 88.6 per cent in 2019-2021 to 90.6 per cent in 2023-2024, moving India closer towards universal coverage.
It also showed that the percentage of caesarean sections increased from 21.5 percent to 27.2 percent.
While the proportion of caesarean deliveries in private facilities increased from 47.4 per cent in the National Healthy Childhood System-5 to 54.1 per cent, that in public health facilities increased from 14.3 per cent to 16.9 per cent.
The percentage of births conducted under the supervision of health personnel increased from 89.4 percent to 91.3 percent. The data showed that postnatal care of newborns by a doctor, nurse, health visitor, auxiliary nurse, midwife and other health workers within two days of birth improved from 79.1 percent to 85.3 percent.
Maternal nutrition indicators also showed a noticeable improvement.
The percentage of mothers who took folic acid supplements containing iron for 100 days or more during pregnancy increased from 44.1 percent to 54.9 percent, while the percentage of women who took nutritional supplements for 180 days or more increased from 26.0 percent to 37.8 percent.
“These gains reflect strengthening of public health infrastructure and improved access to maternal and child healthcare services across the country, driven by focused implementation of initiatives such as Janani Suraksha Yojana, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, Surakshit Matritva Ashwasan, facility-based newborn care, home-based newborn care and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana. Yojana,” the health ministry said.
He added that these programs enhanced coverage of pre- and post-natal care, ensured quality care during pregnancy and childbirth, and promoted safe maternity practices and child health.
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