National family health survey and children

This article aims to describe the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) being carried out in India with its first round during 1992–93 (NFHS-I) and second round during 1998–99 (NFHS-II), with special reference to information available in relation to children. The survey was on lines of the existing systems of Demographic Surveys (DHS) in various developed as well as developing countries. Another important objective of the survey was to provide quality data to the researchers to carry out analytical work on various aspects. Further, the survey has paved the way to carry out comparative studies not only between states in India but also between countries. An attempt has also been made here to present salient features of comparative results under NFHS-I and NFHS-II.