Lok Sabha Question No. 1092 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-25
Subject: Highest Low Birth Weight in Bihar
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1092 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH JULY 2025

## HIGHEST LOW BIRTH WEIGHT IN BIHAR

## 1092. SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether it is a fact that Bihar ranks among the States with one of the highest percentages of Low Birth Weight (LBW) infants and if so, the details of the latest percentage reported for Bihar in this regard;
- (b) Whether the Saran district of Bihar has recorded a disproportionately high incidence of low birth weight compared to the State average and if so, the details thereof;

(c) Whether the Government has commissioned or conducted any specific research or studies to determine the underlying causes of high LBW rates in Bihar and Saran, such as maternal malnutrition, anaemia, antenatal care gaps, socio economic factors or health system limitations; and

(d) If so, the details of the key findings or interim conclusions of such research?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

- (a) As per National Family Health Survey (NFHS) - 5 (2019-21) report, the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) in the State of Bihar and other States/ UTs is placed at annexure.
- (b) According to the Health Management Information System (HMIS) Report for the year 2024-25, the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) in the State of Bihar is 10.1% and in Saran district is 13.3%.
- (c) and (d) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare undertakes various programmatic interventions to assess and address maternal and child health outcomes, including the issues and challenges related to low birth weight (LBW). The interventions include:
-  Periodic field visits, review meetings with State Nodal Officers and Common Review Missions (CRM) are undertaken to monitor the implementation of the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy with a focus on addressing low birth weight (LBW).
-  Monitoring and assessment of low birth weight (LBW) are conducted under the Aspirational District Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Block Programme (ABP).
-  At the community level, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) provide counselling on maternal nutrition and health during Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs) to address the issue of LBW.
-  Through the Annual Programme Implementation Plan (APIP), the National Health Mission (NHM) provides additional support to States/ UTs to strengthen healthcare systems, ensuring effective and equitable delivery of health services to improve maternal and child health outcomes including LBW.

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1092 for reply on 25 th July 2025

| Low Birth Weight (LBW) - Less than 2.5 kg birth weight (%)   |   Low Birth Weight (LBW) - Less than 2.5 kg birth weight (%) |
|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| A&N Islands                                                  |                                                         17.4 |
| Andhra Pradesh                                               |                                                         16.2 |
| Arunachal Pradesh                                            |                                                         10.6 |
| Assam                                                        |                                                         16.1 |
| Bihar                                                        |                                                         16.8 |
| Chandigarh                                                   |                                                         16.7 |
| Chhattisgarh                                                 |                                                         15.9 |
| D&N Haveli and Daman& Diu                                    |                                                         20.8 |
| Delhi                                                        |                                                         22.1 |
| Goa                                                          |                                                         14   |
| Gujarat                                                      |                                                         18.5 |
| Haryana                                                      |                                                         20.5 |
| Himachal Pradesh                                             |                                                         15.8 |
| Jammu &Kashmir                                               |                                                         10.7 |
| Jharkhand                                                    |                                                         15.6 |
| Karnataka                                                    |                                                         15.9 |
| Kerala                                                       |                                                         16.3 |
| Ladakh                                                       |                                                         11.6 |
| Lakshadweep                                                  |                                                          9.7 |
| Madhya Pradesh                                               |                                                         20.5 |
| Maharashtra                                                  |                                                         20   |
| Manipur                                                      |                                                          7.2 |
| Meghalaya                                                    |                                                         11.7 |
| Mizoram                                                      |                                                          4   |
| Nagaland                                                     |                                                          4.7 |
| Odisha                                                       |                                                         19.2 |
| Puducherry                                                   |                                                         13.7 |
| Punjab                                                       |                                                         22.4 |
| Rajasthan                                                    |                                                         17.7 |
| Sikkim                                                       |                                                          9.8 |
| Tamil Nadu                                                   |                                                         17   |
| Telangana                                                    |                                                         13.9 |
| Tripura                                                      |                                                         19.7 |
| Uttar Pradesh                                                |                                                         20.2 |
| Uttarakhand                                                  |                                                         17.7 |
| West Bengal                                                  |                                                         19   |