This module presents data compiled from various rounds of the National Family Health Survey. The survey is undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. So far, five such surveys have been conducted covering various aspects of fertility, nuptiality, family planning, maternal and child health, morbidity, and mortality, etc. These data are presented in this module at the All-India, state, and district-level, depending upon their availability.

The first National Family and Health Survey (NFHS) was initiated in 1992-93 (NFHS-1) with a primary objective of providing national and state-level data on fertility, nuptiality, family size preferences, family planning, fertility preferences, morbidity and mortality, maternal and child health and knowledge of AIDS. It also included data on the background of the respondents as well as household characteristics and housing conditions. Indicators like sex ratio, educational attainment, marital status, and household having facilities such as electricity, drinking water, etc., were also covered. The second survey was conducted in 1998-99 (NFHS-2) with almost the same set of objectives. But with wider coverage, the third survey was carried out in 2005-06 (NFHS-3). Unlike the first two surveys that considered ever-married women between 15-49 years to be the base population eligible for interview, the third NFHS-3 interviewed all women aged 15-49 years and all men aged 15-54 years in addition to the ever-married women. It also included several other parameters such as family life education, safe injections, adolescent reproductive health, tuberculosis, malaria, and domestic violence.  The NFHS-3 was also the first nationwide community-based survey to provide an estimate of HIV prevalence in the general population, especially among women aged 15-49 years and men aged 15-54 years.  After the first three surveys, the fourth round was conducted in 2015-16 (NFHS-4). The special feature of the fourth survey was that it provided estimates at the district level, unlike the earlier three surveys which provided data only at the national and state level. Added to this, NFHS-4 was the first nationwide community-based survey to provide estimates of blood glucose and blood pressure in the general population. The NFHS-5 was conducted during 2019-21. The NFHS-5 also provided district-wise estimates and included several new indicators such as preschool education, access to a toilet facility, death registration, etc. Even the scope of clinical, anthropometric and biochemical testing (CAB) was widened to include the measurement of waist and hip circumferences, including the age range for the measurement of blood pressure and blood glucose.

The indicators covered by NFHS are immensely helpful to researchers, academicians, policymakers and activists. These indicators also help in tracking the progress regarding Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with respect to indicators relating to ‘No Poverty’, ’Zero Hunger’ , ’Good Health and Wellbeing’ and ‘Gender Equality’.