Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addressed a question regarding the prevalence of Low Birth Weight (LBW) in Bihar. The response includes LBW statistics from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21 and the Health Management Information System (HMIS) Report for 2024-25, along with details of government interventions aimed at addressing maternal and child health outcomes related to LBW.
Key Points / Main Content:
LBW Prevalence:
Bihar's LBW percentage, according to NFHS-5 (2019-21), is 16.8.
The HMIS Report for 2024-25 indicates an LBW prevalence of 10.1% in Bihar and 13.3% in the Saran district.
Government Interventions:
The Ministry undertakes programmatic interventions to address maternal and child health, including LBW.
Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAHN) strategy implementation is monitored through field visits, review meetings, and Common Review Missions (CRM).
LBW monitoring and assessment are conducted under the Aspirational District Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Block Programme (ABP).
Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) provide counseling on maternal nutrition and health during Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs).
The National Health Mission (NHM) provides additional support to States/UTs through the Annual Programme Implementation Plan (APIP) to strengthen healthcare systems and improve maternal and child health outcomes, including LBW.
Impact Analysis:
State Nodal Officers:
Impact: Accountable for the implementation and monitoring of the RMNCAHN strategy, with a focus on LBW reduction.
Action Required: Participate in review meetings and field visits to assess and improve program effectiveness.
Healthcare Providers (ANMs, ASHAs):
Impact: Frontline workers responsible for providing maternal and child health services and counseling at the community level.
Action Required: Conduct counseling sessions during VHNDs, focusing on maternal nutrition and health to address LBW.
National Health Mission (NHM):
Impact: Provides financial and programmatic support to States/UTs to strengthen healthcare systems.
Action Required: Offer additional support through APIP to improve maternal and child health outcomes, including LBW reduction.
Key Entities Referenced
Bihar: A state in India with a high percentage of Low Birth Weight (LBW) infants.
Saran district, Bihar: A district in Bihar that recorded a disproportionately high incidence of low birth weight compared to the state average.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health and family welfare policies and programs.
National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21: A large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in India that provides information on population, health, and nutrition.
Health Management Information System (HMIS): A reporting system used to collect and manage health-related data.
Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAHN): A strategy focused on improving health outcomes for women and children.
Aspirational District Programme (ADP): An initiative to quickly and effectively transform districts that have shown relatively less progress in key social areas.
National Health Mission (NHM): A program providing support to States/UTs to strengthen healthcare systems and improve maternal and child health outcomes.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1092
TOBE ANSWERED ON 25TH JULY2025
HIGHESTLOW BIRTH WEIGHTIN BIHAR
1092.SHRIRAJIVPRATAPRUDY:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) Whether it is a fact that Bihar ranks among the States with one of the highest percentages
of Low Birth Weight (LBW)infants and if so, the details of the latest percentage reported for
Bihar inthisregard;
(b) Whether the Saran district of Bihar has recorded a disproportionately high incidence of
lowbirthweightcomparedtothe Stateaverageandifso, thedetailsthereof;
(c) Whether the Government hascommissioned or conducted any specific research or studies
to determine the underlying causes of high LBW rates in Bihar and Saran, such as maternal
malnutrition, anaemia, antenatal care gaps, socio economic factors or health system
limitations; and
(d)If so,the detailsof thekeyfindingsorinterimconclusions ofsuchresearch?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a)AsperNationalFamilyHealthSurvey(NFHS)–5(2019-21) report,the prevalenceoflow
birthweight(LBW)intheStateofBiharandotherStates/UTsisplacedatannexure.
(b) According to the Health Management Information System (HMIS) Report for the year
2024–25,theprevalenceoflowbirthweight(LBW)intheStateofBiharis10.1%andinSaran
districtis13.3%.
(c) and (d) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare undertakes various programmatic
interventions to assess and address maternal and child health outcomes, including the issues
andchallengesrelatedtolowbirthweight(LBW).Theinterventionsinclude:
Periodic field visits, review meetings with State Nodal Officers and Common Review
Missions (CRM) are undertaken to monitor the implementation of the Reproductive,
Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy
with a focusonaddressing lowbirthweight (LBW).
Monitoring and assessment of low birth weight (LBW) are conducted under the
Aspirational District Programme (ADP) andAspirational BlockProgramme(ABP). At the community level, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Accredited Social
HealthActivists (ASHAs) provide counselling onmaternal nutritionandhealthduring
Village HealthandNutrition Days (VHNDs) toaddress the issue of LBW.
Through the Annual Programme Implementation Plan (APIP), the National Health
Mission (NHM) provides additional support to States/ UTs to strengthen healthcare
systems, ensuring effective and equitable delivery of health services to improve
maternalandchild healthoutcomesincludingLBW.Annexure
Annexure referred to inreplyto part(a) of Lok SabhaUnstarredQuestion No. 1092for
replyon25th July2025
Low BirthWeight(LBW) - Less than 2.5kgbirthweight(%)
A&N Islands 17.4
Andhra Pradesh 16.2
Arunachal Pradesh 10.6
Assam 16.1
Bihar 16.8
Chandigarh 16.7
Chhattisgarh 15.9
D&N Haveli andDaman& Diu 20.8
Delhi 22.1
Goa 14.0
Gujarat 18.5
Haryana 20.5
HimachalPradesh 15.8
Jammu & Kashmir 10.7
Jharkhand 15.6
Karnataka 15.9
Kerala 16.3
Ladakh 11.6
Lakshadweep 9.7
Madhya Pradesh 20.5
Maharashtra 20.0
Manipur 7.2
Meghalaya 11.7
Mizoram 4.0
Nagaland 4.7
Odisha 19.2
Puducherry 13.7
Punjab 22.4
Rajasthan 17.7
Sikkim 9.8
Tamil Nadu 17.0
Telangana 13.9
Tripura 19.7
Uttar Pradesh 20.2
Uttarakhand 17.7
West Bengal 19.0
Source: National FamilyHealthSurvey - 5 Report, 2019-21
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