India sees drop in severe diarrhoea cases: NFHS-6

India has recorded a slight decline in severe diarrhoea cases among children under five years of age, with improved vaccination coverage and better access to safe drinking water contributing to gains in child health, according to the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6).

The prevalence of severe diarrhoea among children under five declined from 0.7 per cent in NFHS-5 to 0.5 per cent in NFHS-6, while coverage of all three doses of the Rotavirus vaccine among children aged 12-23 months increased sharply from 36.4 per cent to 85.4 per cent, the Health Ministry said on Friday. It added that under-five mortality had also declined by 38 per cent from 45 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 28 per 1,000 live births in 2024.

Rotavirus is one of the leading causes of severe diarrhoea and dehydration among infants and young children. The ministry attributed the improvement to coordinated interventions under the National Health Mission (NHM), including the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) and the STOP Diarrhoea Campaign.

Under the campaign, frontline health workers such as Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) have been promoting the use of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), Zinc supplementation, breastfeeding, handwashing with soap, nutrition awareness and early treatment-seeking behaviour.

"These sustained awareness and outreach activities have strengthened community-level management of diarrhoea, particularly in rural and underserved regions," the ministry said.

The ministry also highlighted the role of the Jal Jeevan Mission in improving access to safe drinking water in rural India. According to official data, access to functional household tap connections in rural areas increased from 17 per cent in 2019 to 81 per cent, covering 15.85 crore households and more than 5.91 lakh villages.

The ministry said the integrated approach combining vaccination, diarrhoea management, sanitation and safe drinking water was helping India move towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal targets related to child health.