National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) 2015-16: Maharashtra

Almost 49 per cent of the households in Maharashtra were located in urban areas. On an average, they had 4.5 members. Thirteen per cent of all households were headed by women, and 10 per cent of the population lived in women-led families. 

Nearly 79 per cent of households were headed by Hindus, 11 per cent by Muslims, and 9 percent by Buddhists/Neo-Buddhists.

One-fourth of Maharashtra’s population was under the age of 15; only 8 per cent was 65 years of age and above.

One-fourth of Maharashtra’s population was under the age of 15; only 8 per cent was 65 years of age and above.

School attendance was 95 per cent for the 6-14 age group, but it dropped sharply to 74 per cent between the ages 15 and 17.

Men (62 per cent) were much more likely than women (35 per cent) to read a newspaper or magazine at least once a week.

Looking at the 2017 fertility rates, the report said that women with no schooling had one child more than women with 12 or more years of schooling. Similarly, the total fertility rate of Muslim women (2.3 children per woman) was higher than that of Hindu women (1.8 children per woman) and Buddhist/Neo-Buddhist women (1.7 children per woman).

Women in Maharashtra were much more likely to use contraception if they already had a son. Among women with two children, contraception was used by 80 per cent who had at least one son as compared to 55 per cent who had two daughters and no sons. 

Women in Maharashtra were much more likely to use contraception if they already had a son. Among women with two children, contraception was used by 80 per cent who had at least one son as compared to 55 per cent who had two daughters and no sons. 

Approximately 90 per cent of births took place in a health facility, while 10 per cent took place at home.

Postnatal care after birth was most common in a health facility. In 81 per cent of births in public health facilities and 86 per cent of births in private health facilities, mothers had a postnatal check-up within two days. As compared to this, in only 41 per cent of home births did mothers receive similar care.

Only 15 per cent of households in Maharashtra had any kind of health insurance that covered at least one member of the household.

Overall, 21 per cent of women, who were or had been married, had experienced physical or sexual violence from their current or most recent husbands.

Around 49 percent of women believed that a husband was justified in beating his wife under certain circumstances. Of these women, 37 per cent felt it was acceptable if a woman showed disrespect for her in-laws; 28 per cent, if she neglected the house or children; and 24 per cent, if her husband suspected her of being unfaithful. 

Only 36 per cent of all women aged 15-49 were employed in the 12 months preceding the survey. In the same period, 83 per cent of all men aged 15-49 were employed.

Focus and Factoids by Pratik Dixit.

PARI Library's health archive project is part of an initiative supported by the Azim Premji University to develop a free-access repository of health-related reports relevant to rural India.