AP's Robust Healthcare Shows Promise Amid Rising Lifestyle Diseases
Andhra Pradesh has seen substantial improvements in healthcare and maternal child welfare but faces growing challenges from lifestyle diseases like obesity and diabetes, highlighting the need for comprehensive public health strategies.
Highlights
- •Health Insurance Penetration: 91.9% of households now covered under AP's health scheme vs national average 80.2%.
- •High Caesarean Rates: 52.2% in public hospitals, soaring to 66.2% in private ones.
- •Lifestyle Diseases Surges: Obesity up to 48% among women, one in four adults has hypertension and elevated blood sugar levels.
- •Continuing Social Issues Concerns: Spousal violence (22.7%) and child marriage (25.1%).
VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh (AP) has shown significant strides in improving healthcare access and maternal & child welfare over the past years, according to recent data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-6. Despite these positive developments, alarming surges in lifestyle-related health issues such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and high Caesarean delivery rates also raise concern.
Health Insurance Penetration Nearly Universal
The state's commitment to healthcare is illustrated by near-universal insurance coverage—91.9% of households are now insured under the health scheme, surpassing the national average of 80.2%. This expansion has extended its reach into every corner of AP, from urban centers like Vijayawada to remote rural areas.
Maternal healthcare indicators have also seen improvement. Almost 99.7% of pregnant women receive antenatal care, and 98.4% of births are institutionalized deliveries. Child health programs in the state have similarly made strides, with around 88% of children aged 12-23 months fully immunized, while vitamin-A supplements are reaching nearly 91% of appropriate targets.
Stunting among young children has been significantly reduced, dropping from 31.2% to 24.6%, with underweight figures decreasing to 23.2%. However, the percentage of children aged six to 23 months receiving adequate nutrition remains low at merely 19.2%. This suggests ongoing challenges despite considerable progress in overall nutritional outcomes.
Digital and financial inclusion have also seen significant growth with internet usage soaring from 21% to 63.6% among women, while men's usage increased by a similar margin—41.9% up to 83.7%. Women's economic empowerment through bank account ownership has risen to 92.3%, and over two-thirds of them now own and use mobile phones.
While these achievements are noteworthy, concerns linger about the quality of nutrition and care practices. High rates of Caesarean deliveries—52.2% in state facilities and even higher at 66.2% in private hospitals—raise questions about possible overuse of medical interventions without necessary evidence-based justification.
Lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension have become pressing public health challenges, affecting nearly half the population. Overweight or obese individuals account for 48% among women and 42% among men, both above national averages. Roughly one in four adults has elevated blood sugar levels, with hypertension reported by a similar proportion of the adult population.
AP's social indicators reflect mixed progress too. Spousal violence rates have dipped but physical or sexual abuse remains an issue for 24% of ever-married women. Child marriage continues to cause concern, affecting about one-quarter (25.1%) of women aged 20-24.
