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