Union health ministry released the national family health survey data showing a decline in fertility rate among the Delhi population. According to the data, the number of children per woman among the Delhiites has been further reduced to 1.6 from 1.8. The total fertility rate at a national level is recorded as 2, a declined figure from 2.2 in 2015-16. 

The survey was conducted in two phases i.e., the first phase was conducted between January 2020 – March 2020 while the second one was conducted between November 2020- January 2021. The national survey also included several new topics such as pre-school education, access to toilet facilities, death registration, disability, menstrual hygiene practice, etc. 

The survey showed increased adolescent parenthood with the need standing at 3.3%. Meanwhile,  the infant mortality rate showed an improvement with a decline from 17.8 to 17.5. However, the institutional deaths went up to 91.8 from 84.4 with an increasing number of females opting for institutional deliveries, mostly natural birth as suggested by the reduced number of C- sections registered. Dr. Surveen  Sindhu stated that nowadays women are choosing careers over marriage resulting in pregnancies at a delayed age. She added that keeping laptops on laps and usage of mobile phones slowly destroying the endocrinal balance are certain factors associated with a rise in infertility rates.

Source: ET Healthworld