Health, Nutrition and Population Trends of Scheduled Tribes

Context:

• In the recent study “Population, Health and Nutrition Profiles of Scheduled Tribes in India”, published by LANCET, researchers provide a detailed analysis of the health, nutrition, and population trends of Scheduled Tribes (STs) from 2016 to 2021.

About Study:

• The study offers an overview of the performance metrics for STs based on 129 parameters.
• Drawing from the National Family Health Surveys from 2016 and 2021, the study finds that there is a noticeable improvement in the health and welfare metrics of STs.
• The 2011 Census recorded over 104 million (8.6%) STs spread across 705 recognised ethnic groups.

Findings:

• Non-STs vs STs:
  • In 2021, the non-­ST population outperformed the ST population in 81 out of 129 indicators.
  • The 48 indicators on which STs surpassed non-­STs include overall gender balance, gender balance at birth, use of family planning methods, etc.
• Under Five Mortality Rate: It was alarmingly high, with 50 out of every 1,000 children not reaching their fifth birthday.
• Child Malnutrition: More than 40% of ST children under five were stunted, with a similar percentage being underweight.
• New Challenges for STs: From 2016 to 2021, there was a significant rise in high blood pressure levels among men and women aged 15–49.
• Major Improvements: 
  • Access to improved sanitation facilities. 
  • More births were being attended to by skilled health personnel.
  • Full vaccination coverage among children aged 12–23 months.
  • The civil registration of births increased from 76% in 2016 to 88% in 2021.