Moa Jamir
The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) offers Nagaland an opportunity to reflect on a public health story increasingly defined by progress rather than persistent deficits. The findings reveal substantial improvements in maternal and child health, nutrition, immunisation and healthcare access.
Two areas of particularly encouraging progress are maternal and child care. Institutional deliveries rose from 45.7% in NFHS-5 to 62.2% in NFHS-6, while births attended by skilled health personnel increased from 55.3% to 74.4%. Antenatal care indicators have improved, more women are accessing maternal health services, and postnatal care coverage for mothers and newborns has expanded considerably. These gains reflect years of investment in healthcare infrastructure, community outreach and the efforts of frontline health workers.
Child health and nutrition indicators tell a similarly encouraging story. The proportion of children aged 12–23 months who were fully vaccinated increased from 57.9% to 64.3%, while coverage improved across most major vaccines. Vitamin A supplementation also rose substantially, reflecting stronger outreach efforts and expanding access to preventive healthcare.
Stunting among children under five declined from 32.7% to 25.1%, wasting fell sharply from 19.1% to 8.9%, and the proportion of underweight children dropped from 26.2% to 12.2%. Nagaland now performs better than the national average on these key indicators.
Yet the NFHS-6 findings also underscore the challenges that remain. While Nagaland has surpassed the national average on several child nutrition indicators, it continues to lag behind in many maternal and child healthcare measures.
Full immunisation coverage stood at 64.3%, well below the national average of 82.6%, even though more than 91% of children had received at least one vaccine. This suggests that completion of the immunisation schedule remains a major concern.Similarly, despite notable improvements in maternal healthcare, only 32.5% of women received four or more antenatal care visits compared to 65.2% nationally, while institutional deliveries (62.2%) and skilled birth attendance (74.4%) remained far below the national averages of 90.6% and 91.3%, respectively. Coverage of iron and folic acid supplementation, postnatal care and protection against neonatal tetanus also trailed national levels.
Moreover, while State-level averages are encouraging, the detailed district-wise picture has yet to emerge. Experience suggests that aggregate gains often conceal significant disparities between districts, communities and socio-economic groups. The final NFHS reports may similarly reveal pockets of vulnerability hidden within State averages.
The nutrition story itself deserves closer attention. Even as undernutrition has declined, 6.2% of children under five are now overweight, far above the national average of 1.3%. At the same time, only 18% of children aged 6–23 months receive an adequate diet. These findings point to a growing dual burden of malnutrition, where undernutrition and overnutrition coexist. Another area that warrants monitoring is the rise in Caesarean-section deliveries. The proportion of births delivered through C-section has nearly doubled, rising from 5.2% to 9.9%. While still below the national average, the trend, particularly in private facilities, need more holistic analysis.
The survey also suggests that Nagaland is undergoing a broader health transition. As traditional indicators improve, lifestyle-related risks are becoming more visible. Rates of overweight and obesity among adults are rising, while hypertension and elevated blood sugar levels remain significant concerns. Widespread alcohol and tobacco use present additional challenges.
The NFHS-6 findings offer both encouragement and caution. While Nagaland has demonstrated that sustained public health interventions, significant challenges remain. Besides, once the detailed district-wise findings emerge, targeted interventions is imperative to address regional disparities and ensure that progress reaches all communities.
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