NFHS results show that mother's tetanus immunization during pregnancy is associated not only with reduced neonatal mortality, which is expected, but also with substantially reduced early-childhood mortality, which is surprising, even after controlling for the effects of 13 potentially confounding demographic and socioeconomic variables. Probably this occurs because tetanus immunization is correlated with general health-seeking behavior.

The NFHS Bulletin is a series of four-page policy briefs summarizing secondary analysis of data from the 1992-93 National Family Health Survey (NFHS) in India. The NFHS collected information from nearly 90,000 Indian women on a range of demographic and health topics. Conducted under the auspices of the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the survey provides national and state-level estimates of fertility, infant and child mortality, family planning practice, maternal and child health, and the utilization of services available to mothers and children. IIPS conducted the survey in cooperation with consulting organizations and 18 population research centers throughout India. The East-West Center and a U.S.-based consulting firm, Macro International, provided technical assistance, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided financial support