The Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) on Thursday started conducting the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), which is being held by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in coordination with the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS).
The NFHS-4 (2015-16) was also successfully implemented in Odisha by the IIHMR.
Addressing reporters, Dr SD Gupta, Trustee Secretary, IIHMR, said, “The process of NFHS-5 has started now. We have trained our volunteers. Now the field work for data collection will start from today."
Currently, the IIHMR is conducting a month-long state-level training in Bhubaneswar for 350 investigators. After the training, the investigators will collect data from more than 25,000 households in all the 30 districts.
The NFHS-5 would collect blood samples from women (age 15-49) and men (age 15-54) in the form of dried blood spots (DBS) for testing for malaria, HbA1c (a measure of diabetes), and Vitamin D3. Anaemia testing, and height and weight measurements for women (age 15-49), men (age 15-54), and children under age 6 will also be included in NFHS-5. Waist and hip circumference will be measured for women (age 15-49), and men (age 15-54). Blood glucose and hypertension measurements will be done for all women and men over age 15 years. All of these estimates will be provided at the district level.