Decoding NFHS-5 for Madhya Pradesh

At The Analysis (TA), we have recently created a five-part analysis of NFHS-5 uncovering key trends in health, nutrition, education and schooling, family planning, gender-based violence, and equality in Madhya Pradesh. 

Through visuals, research-backed insights, and real-world context, this five-part series connects NFHS data to policy gaps, social realities, and ground-level challenges in Madhya Pradesh, making it an easy-to-use resource for policymakers, journalists, researchers, and development professionals for further research, intervention design, advocacy, media reportage, and more.   

MP presents a diverse picture with respect to its demographic and socio-economic issues. For instance, districts with high literacy rates still face education gaps, alcohol consumption varies widely, with tribal districts showing higher patterns, and gender-based violence has gone down compared to previous NFHS reports but why and how remains a question, and family planning continues to remain a woman’s responsibility. 

This analysis is not just about numbers or data; rather it reveals inequalities, socio-economic disparities, and the urgent need for targeted policy interventions. This analysis also brings forth the problems and challenges with our current model of development in the state and its impact on local communities. 

This series was developed by our Research Analyst Intern Homita Ganguly, pursuing B.Sc. in Economics and Analytics from Christ (Deemed to be University).

Based on the above discussion, we are glad to share the five-part series with you. Please find the list of all the five snippets below: 

Part 1: Alcohol Consumption - This segment examines how education, socio-economic conditions, and policy gaps shape alcohol use amongst men and women, across districts of Madhya Pradesh. 

Part 2: Women’s Education Gaps - Here we highlight the disparity between literacy rates and attainment of 10+ years of schooling amongst the women of Madhya Pradesh across districts. 

Part 3: Family Planning Divide - NFHS data reveals a stark gender gap in sterilization and contraception use. While long-term methods dominate, male participation remains minimal. 

Part 4: Gender-Based Violence -  We track the fall in gender-based violence rates in MP across three rounds of NFHS (1, 2, and 3). This part also looks at violence during pregnancy, the rural-urban divide, and key policy interventions of the government. 

Part 5: Malnutrition Prevalence -  Here, we examine the persistent crisis of child stunting, wasting, and underweight, where rural and tribal areas remain the hardest hit despite signs of progress in MP.

By making NFHS-5 insights more accessible, narrative-driven, and socially grounded, we aim to contribute to informed decision-making and meaningful policy interventions in Madhya Pradesh. Explore the findings, engage with the insights, and use them to drive change.

Homita Ganguly is a final-year student at Christ (Deemed to be University), pursuing BSc in Economics and Analytics. She is currently working as a Research Analyst Intern at The Analysis.