Tracking India’s Progress on Addressing Malnutrition Will Require Strengthening Survey and Administrative Data Systems

Abstract

Abstract Objectives India has a nutrition policy framework that includes several evidence-based interventions. However, the availability of data to analyze coverage, assess equity and track progress on scaling up interventions is not known. We assessed data availability for nutrition interventions by reviewing multiple data systems in India. Methods Using the national policy framework, we identified 55 nutrition interventions for which coverage data were necessary to track progress. We examined questionnaires of three major household surveys. We also assessed monitoring data available in three major administrative systems. We summarized overall data availability by type of data system and across the life course. Results Of the 55 interventions, six interventions had data across all data sources. For nine interventions, no data was available from any source. For the remaining 46 interventions, data is available from at least one data source. Surveys had data on 36 interventions and administrative systems had data on 42 interventions. However, data definitions and denominators vary by source, making comparisons challenging. For adolescents, coverage data is scarce both in surveys and administrative systems. For pregnancy, multiple data sources are available on antenatal care, but gaps exist for nutrition interventions such as calcium supplementation, counseling and maternity benefits. For delivery and postnatal care, data is available on institutional deliveries and postnatal care but is limited for kangaroo mother care and breastfeeding counseling. Data is very limited for newborn care interventions. For early childhood, 9 of 13 interventions are available from different data sources. Conclusions Data on India's nutrition interventions are available from multiple sources but vary by intervention and by life-stage. Data are often not comparable across sources. Multiple data sources for some interventions requires careful reconciliation of findings from survey and administrative data systems. Data stewardship is critical to ensure effective use of data. Funding Sources Data for Decisions to Expand Nutrition Transformation (DataDENT) and Partnerships and Opportunities to Strengthen and Harmonize Actions for Nutrition in India (POSHAN), supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.