The government is also considering redefining its anemia campaigns, officials said. Data from the NFHS 2019-21 showed anemia to be a major concern for children and women, with the highest peak of anemia reported in children aged 6 to 59 months – 67.1 % (NFHS-5) versus 58.6% (NFHS-4 conducted in 2015-16).
“For the first time the TFR has gone below the replacement level, government efforts will be to maintain it. The government will focus on the five states with a TFR above 2.1. The priority will be to tackle it. to these problems at the district level, imbalances, ”one official said.
India’s TFR now stands at 2, compared to 2.2. The replacement rate, or the fertility rate when the population remains stable, is 2.1. According to experts, a fertility rate of 2.1 means the country’s population will stabilize. Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, National Capital Territory of Delhi, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand were interviewed in phase 2 of the survey, and data showed that with the exception of MP, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and UP, all of the surveyed states have TFR at or below the replacement level.
“We will also take a close look at the government-initiated anemic-mukt bharat programs, and see if we should consider iron fortification or if we need to add other supplements. The data gives us the opportunity to rethink the program,” one official said. noted.
“States will need to prepare their annual action plans as part of the national health mission based on areas they need to improve and they need to plan for both budget and resources,” an official said.
The increase in birth registration from 79.7% to 89.1% is a significant improvement as it is a sign that more institutional deliveries are on the increase, officials said.