More Indian Women Opting for Private Hospitals for Childbirth, NFHS-6 Shows

India is witnessing a significant shift in how and where babies are born, with a growing number of women choosing hospitals over home births. According to the latest National Family and Health Survey (NFHS-6) released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, institutional deliveries across the country have climbed to 90.6%. This is a notable jump from the 88.6% recorded in the previous survey conducted between 2019 and 2021.

The data highlights a major trend: more families are opting for private healthcare facilities. While public health facility births saw a slight dip from 61.9% to 58.6%, private hospital births are on the rise. Experts suggest that this shift might be driven by the Ayushman Bharat (AB-PMJAY) scheme, which has empanelled many private hospitals, making them more accessible to a larger section of the population.

It’s not just about where the births are happening, but also who is attending them. The survey shows that births attended by skilled health personnel have improved to 91.3%. Furthermore, postnatal care within the critical first 48 hours after delivery has reached 82.8%, ensuring better safety for both mothers and their newborns. These improvements are directly linked to India’s falling maternal mortality rate, which now stands at 87 per lakh live births.

The report also brings good news regarding prenatal care. Registration for antenatal care in the first trimester has risen to 76.2%, and more mothers are now completing at least four antenatal visits. In total, nearly 96% of pregnant women in India are now receiving some form of antenatal care services. These gains reflect a sustained effort to strengthen the continuity of care, proving that investments in health infrastructure and insurance schemes are starting to pay off for families across the nation.

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