Quality of Data in NFHS-4 Compared to Earlier Rounds

This article examines the quality of data collected in the National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4), comparing it with previous rounds of the survey. It provides a detailed analysis of how data quality has evolved over time, identifying improvements made in data collection methodologies, sampling techniques, and coverage. Despite these advancements, the study also discusses persistent challenges such as reporting biases, inconsistencies in data across regions, and underreporting in certain categories. These challenges continue to affect the reliability of the data, although the NFHS remains a critical source of health and demographic data for India.