National Family Health Survey (NFHS), records decline in use of family planning methods to 53.5 per cent in its survey for 2015-16, from 56.3 per cent in its last survey a decade back. Both female and male sterilisation declined to 36 per cent and 0.3 per cent, respectively in this period from 37.3 per cent and 1 per cent. The use of IUD (Intrauterine device) and PPIUD (Postpartum Intrauterine Contraceptive Device) also declined to 1.5 per cent from 1.7 per cent.
But the use of pills and condoms have respectively seen rise to 4.1 per cent and 5.6 per cent from 3.1 per cent and 5.2 per cent in between the two survey periods. The rise in uses of pills comes despite 46.5 per cent users being told about the side effects of modern methods, up from 34.4 per cent in earlier. Also, the overall decline in the use of family planning method to 17.7 per cent now from 10.1 per cent earlier comes despite rise in health workers talking to female non-users about family planning.
The report also talks about rising number of child immunisation. Now, 62 per cent of children get immunised, up from 43.5 per cent a decade back. This includes children who have been given vaccines for tuberculosis, measles, three doses of polio immunisation and diphtheria. All these vaccines need to be administered to children below two years of age. Incidence of TB in India for 2015 was at 217 per 1, 00,000 people.
The survey also shows high participation of public health facilities in the immunisation drive with a 90.7 per cent vaccinations provided there and only 7.2 per cent provided by private health institutions. This also shows an increase from the previous survey according to which 82 per cent vaccinations were done in public health institutions. This study also reflects that in rural India, most vaccinations were done in public health facilities. Only 3.4 per cent vaccines were administered in private health centres. As compared to the previous survey, dependence on public health institutions even in urban areas has increased. In urban areas, 82 per cent vaccines are administered in public health centres and 16.7 per cent are done in private healthcare centres.
A researcher involved in the process of preparing the report explained that these numbers mean that accessibility to private health care facilities especially vaccination, is still a problem. It is also believed that since the government provides free immunisation at public health facilities, people prefer it. The central government provides free immunisation at all public health facilities under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). The Government of India procures and supplies all UIP vaccines along with diluents to all states. In addition to vaccines, syringes of different capacities, are also procured centrally and supplied to states.
About 62 per cent children below the age of two have been given three doses of Hepatitis B vaccines. While 62.5 per cent children have had three doses of Hepatitis B vaccines, 63.3 per cent children below two in urban areas have had three doses of the vaccine. There is also a spike in the number of children receiving Vitamin A doses. While 60.2 per cent children got doses of Vitamin A in 2015-16, in the previous study only 16.5 per cent children got it done.