NFHS-6 reveals progress amid nutrition challenges

Source: The post “NFHS-6 reveals progress amid nutrition challenges” has been created based on “NFHS-6 reveals progress amid nutrition challenges”, published in “The Hindu” on 19th June 2026.

UPSC Syllabus: GS 3 -Economy

Context: Recently released National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) presents a mixed picture of child nutrition in India. While several health and service-delivery indicators have improved, progress in reducing child malnutrition remains slow, highlighting the need for focused interventions.

Key Findings of NFHS-6

Improvements in Health and Nutrition Indicators

1. The prevalence of stunting among children declined from 35.5% to 29.3%, indicating an improvement in long-term nutritional status.
2. Institutional births increased to nearly 90%, ensuring safer deliveries and better maternal and child health outcomes.
3. About 91% of deliveries were attended by skilled medical personnel, improving access to professional healthcare during childbirth.
4. Around 95% of mothers received at least one antenatal care visit, reflecting better maternal healthcare coverage.
5. Full vaccination coverage among children aged 12–23 months increased to 87%, reducing the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.
6. Improvements in healthcare access, immunisation, maternal education, housing, drinking water, and sanitation have contributed significantly to better child health outcomes.

Persistent Nutrition Challenges

1. Wasting among children has shown limited improvement, except in cases of severe wasting.
2. Only about 50% of newborns were breastfed within one hour of birth, despite its importance for child survival and nutrition.
3. Approximately 60% of children aged 6–8 months received solid or semi-solid foods as recommended.
4. Only 15% of children aged 6–23 months received an adequate and diversified diet.
5. Delayed initiation of complementary feeding after the annaprashana stage (6–12 months) continues to contribute to growth faltering among children.
6. Maternal time poverty limits the ability of mothers to provide adequate care and feeding to their children.
7. Although around 30% of women reported engaging in paid work, their unpaid domestic and caregiving responsibilities remain substantial.
8. Processed and packaged foods are becoming increasingly affordable and preferred, while nutritious foods such as pulses, fruits, vegetables, and nuts remain relatively expensive.

Measures Required

1. Strengthen Infant and Young Child Feeding

1. Timely initiation of breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding practices should be actively promoted.
2. Mothers should receive continuous counselling on nutrition and childcare during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.

2. Empower Frontline Nutrition Workers

1. ASHAs and Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) should be trained to improve anthropometric data collection, monitoring, and analysis.
2. Nutritionists and data analysts should be recruited at the district level to strengthen nutrition planning and implementation.
3. Digital tools should be used for nutrition counselling, growth monitoring, and programme evaluation.

3. Improve Behaviour Change Communication

1. Culturally appropriate nutrition education should be provided to families and communities.
2. Counselling should emphasize the use of locally available, affordable, and nutritious foods.

4. Promote Convergence and Community Action

1. Child nutrition should be made a regular agenda item in Gram Sabha and Panchayat meetings.
2. Investments should be made to improve drinking water facilities, sanitation infrastructure, and Anganwadi centres.

5. Address Gender Dimensions

1. Childcare services and crèche facilities should be expanded to support working mothers.
2. Men should be encouraged to participate actively in childcare and household responsibilities.
3. Reducing women’s unpaid care burden can help improve child feeding practices and overall child well-being.

Conclusion: NFHS-6 demonstrates significant improvements in healthcare service delivery and maternal-child health indicators. However, improvements in health services alone are insufficient to address India’s persistent nutrition challenges. A preventive, community-based, and multi-sectoral approach is required to improve feeding practices, empower women, and strengthen nutrition-sensitive interventions. Sustained efforts in these areas are essential for achieving long-term improvements in child nutrition and human development.

Question: NFHS-6 reveals progress in maternal and child health indicators, yet child nutrition remains a major challenge in India.” Examine the key findings of NFHS-6 and

suggest measures to address persistent malnutrition.

Source: The Hindu