Women’s Status, Health and Family Planning in India- PFI

Introduction

The study “Women’s Status, Health and Family Planning in India”, sponsored by the Population Foundation of India and led by Prof. Preet Rustagi with a team of Dr. Sunil Mishra, Dr. Swati Dutta, and Dr. Disha Tewari, provides a comprehensive evidence-based resource for advocacy. Its central premise was to assess women’s health across states, comparing socio-economic strata, and examining awareness and practices of family planning among women of reproductive age. The study explored how empowerment influences family planning decisions and analyzed disparities across regions, age groups, and marginalized communities. Using retrospective secondary data, it traced trends over decades, highlighting challenges in literacy, early marriage, and access to education. The findings aim to inform policy interventions and strengthen gender-sensitive development strategies in India.

Objectives

• Assess the status of women’s health across Indian states
• Compare health and family planning practices across socio-economic groups
• Examine awareness of family planning among women of reproductive age
• Identify factors influencing family planning practices and empowerment
• Analyze regional, age-based, and marginalized group disparities
• Provide evidence-based insights for advocacy and policy formulation

Methodology and Coverage

The study employed a detailed secondary data-based analysis, drawing from multiple national sources including NFHS, NSS, Census, Registrar General’s Office, DLHS, AHS, SRS, NCRB, MIS of MHFW and MWCD, and IHDS. It was designed as a retrospective analysis of women’s health and family planning trends in India. Coverage spanned all-India, with disaggregation by rural, urban, and total sectors, as well as socio-economic and regional variations. The study examined women across age cohorts and marginalized groups, capturing changes over the past few decades. By integrating diverse datasets, it provided a holistic view of health indicators, literacy, marriage patterns, and family planning awareness, enabling comparative insights across states and socio-economic strata to highlight persistent gaps and emerging improvements.

Findings

• Female survival rates improve significantly after age six, aided by recent gender-sensitive policies.
• Early marriage remains widespread, with many states reporting high proportions of girls married before 18.
• EAG states show steady literacy gains but continue to lag due to historically low baselines.
• In several states, less than 30% of women/girls reach secondary education, correlating with higher under-age marriage rates.
• As of 2015–16, nearly 30–40% of girls in low-literacy states were married before 18.