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ObjectivesThis is the first attempt to provide estimates on the prevalence of hypertension at the national, state and district level, a prerequisite for designing effective interventions. Besides, the study aims to identify the risk factors of hypertension.DesignWe analysed cross-sectional survey data from the fourth round (2015–2016) of National Family Health Survey (NFHS). NFHS was conducted between January 2015 and December 2016, gathering information on a range of indicators including blood pressure. The age adjusted prevalence of hypertension was calculated for state comparison, while multilevel logistic regression analysis was done to assess the correlates of hypertension.Setting and participantsIndia (2015–2016; n=811 917) aged 15–49.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcome is hypertension, which has been defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg.ResultsThe age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension in India was 11.3% (95% CI 11.16% to 11.43%) among persons aged between 15 and 49 and was four percentage points higher among males 13.8% (95% CI 13.46% to 14.19%) than among females 10.9% (95% CI 10.79% to 11.06%). Persons in the urban location (12.5%, 95% CI 12.25% to 12.80%) had a marginally higher prevalence than persons in rural location (10.6%, 95% CI 10.50% to 10.78%). The proportion of population suffering from hypertension varied greatly between states, with a prevalence of 8.2% (95% CI 7.58% to 8.85%) in Kerala to 20.3% (95% CI 18.81% to 21.77%) in Sikkim. Advancing age, obesity/overweight, male sex, socioeconomic status and consumption of alcohol were found to be the major predictors of hypertension.ConclusionsHypertension prevalence is now becoming more concentrated among the poor. Policy measures should be taken to improve the hazardous working conditions and growing social pressures of survival responsible for ‘life-style’ changes such as consumption of high calorie food and alcohol.

The study concludes that it would be necessary to address the prevailing inequities in healthcare by substantially scaling up the public spending on health, and achieving effective universal coverage of healthcare in India.

The study aimed to assess the demand for health insurance, gather evidence on willingness to pay (WTP) for health insurance and its determining factors amongst the urban poor in Mumbai. This was as-certained through dichotomous bidding process on 300 households (HHs). The findings reveal characteristics of a low-income group with a burden of disease and treatment financed through out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure, which is at times catastrophic. These factors justify the demand for health care insurance in the study population expressed by one-third of the population. Results of the multivariate regression model suggest that HHs with presence of morbid conditions and prior experience of inpatient admissions were more likely to join and pay for health insurance. Within the ‘urban poor’, the relatively better-off HHs expressed greater WTP for health insurance. The results clearly indicate the need for a state-subsidized insurance scheme as more than 50 per cent of the people willing to pay expressed their inability to pay more than 1 per cent of the annual income.

Background Maharashtra is the richest Indian state. However, prevalence of undernutrition is unacceptably high in Maharashtra, particularly among the tribal children. In 2005, child malnutrition claimed as many as 718 lives in one single district namely Palghar. Even after a decade of double-digit economic growth, in 2016, more than 600 children died due to under-nutrition in the same district. The state then announced a slew of measures to address child malnutrition in tribal dominated areas. There has not been any study to check whether the nutritional scenario has improved since then in Palghar. Hence, the present study was undertaken to assess the magnitude of under-nutrition among the tribal children under six years of age, their dietary pattern and food practices in the Vikramgad block of Palghar District. Methods The study is based on a survey conducted among the 375 tribal households with children aged between 1 and 6 during April-June 2017. The sample was selected through a two-stage stratified random sampling. Both height and weight measurements were taken from each of the 375 children. The assessment of their nutritional status was carried out using the 2006 WHO Child Growth Standard. Besides, multivariate logistic regression models were employed to understand the independent effects of predictor variables on stunting, wasting and underweight. Results Our study level estimates suggest that 59% of children were stunted. The overall prevalence of wasting and underweight was 20% and 53% respectively. The dietary recall data revealed 83% of the children had consumed food belonging to only 3 groups. Further, the most common food eaten by the children was rice and dal (pulses). Only 13% of the children achieved a minimum level of diet diversity.