National Family Health Survey (NFHS-1)- 1992-93



The first National Family Health Survey (NFHS-1) was an important component of the project to strengthen the survey research capabilities of the Population research Centres (PRCs) in India, launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Government of India, New Delhi, in 1991. The MOHFW designated the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, as the nodal agency for providing co-ordination and technical guidance for NFHS-1. The data collection for the NFHS-1 in each state was undertaken by the field organizations, selected for this purpose, in collaboration with the PRCs of the respective state. The East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA and Macro International, Calverton, Maryland, USA provided technical assistance for all of the survey operations. Funding for the NFHS-1 was provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), New Delhi. UNICEF and Plan International provided the weighing scales for the survey.

Interviews were conducted with a nationally representative sample of 88,562 households and 89,777 ever-married women in the age group 13-49, from 24 states and the then National Capital Territory of Delhi (which later attained statehood) using uniform questionnaire, sample design and field procedures. The main objective of the survey was to collect reliable and up-to-date information on fertility, family planning, mortality, and maternal and child health. Data collection was carried out in three phases from April 1992 to September 1993. The NFHS-1 was a major landmark in the development in the demographic database for India.

Project Directors
Dr. K. Srinivasan
Dr. K.B. Pathak

Project Coordinators
Prof. Tara Kanitkar
Dr. T.K. Roy
Dr. B.M. Ramesh

National and International Consultants
Dr. Fred Arnold
Mr. David Cantor
Dr. Pavalavalli Govindswamy
Mr. Sushil Kumar
Ms. Thanh Le
Dr. Robert D. Retherford
Ms. Sandra Rowland
Mr. O.P. Sharma
Dr. Jeremiah M. Sullivan
Mr. Sanjay Tiwari
Dr. Vijay Verma

The Population Research Centres
PRC, Andhra University, Vishakapatnam
PRC, Guahati University, Guwahati
PRC, Patna University, Patna
PRC, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi
PRC, JSS Institute of Economic Research, Dharwad
PRC, M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara
PRC, Punjab University, Chandigarh
PRC, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla
PRC, Kashmir University, Srinagar
PRC, Institute of Social and Economic Change, Bangalore
PRC, Kerala University, Thiruvananthapuram
PRC, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Madhya Pradesh,Bhopal
PRC, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune
PRC, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar
PRC, Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development Chandigarh
PRC, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur
PRC, The Gandhigram Institute of Rural Health and Family Welfare Trust, Ambathurai R.S., Tamil Nadu
PRC, Lucknow University, Lucknow

The Field Organizations
Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad
Centre for Development Research and Training, Madras
Centre for Management of Development Programmes, Hyderabad
Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, Chandigarh
Indian Institute of Health Management Research, Jaipur
MODE Research Private Limited, Calcutta
VIMARSH, The Consultancy Group, New Delhi