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DNB Broad Specialty · Book Guide

Books for DNB Maternal & Child Health.

What residents and departments actually read in 2026 — with recommended journals, a year-wise reading plan, and the references you'll need for your thesis and practical.

17Titles on the reference list
10Current-edition picks
3 yearsReading plan included
Reference reading list

Standard reference books for DNB Maternal & Child Health

These 17 titles are the standard references for Maternal & Child Health — the books Indian teaching departments work from and examiners expect answers to be traceable to. Each is shown with the edition in circulation now, so you can print or buy the right one first time.

  1. Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social MedicineK. Park · 28th editionThe core Indian public health text covering national maternal and child health programmes, demography and screening.
  2. Ghai Essential PediatricsVinod K. Paul and Arvind Bagga · 10th editionStandard Indian paediatrics textbook used for growth, development, nutrition and common childhood illness.
  3. Nelson Textbook of PediatricsRobert M. Kliegman and Joseph W. St. Geme III · 22nd editionThe international reference textbook consulted for detailed paediatric disease description and management.
  4. Partha's IAP Textbook of PediatricsA. Parthasarathy (Chief Editor) · 8th editionIndian Academy of Pediatrics textbook giving India-specific paediatric practice and immunisation guidance.
  5. Williams ObstetricsF. Gary Cunningham, Kenneth J. Leveno, Jodi S. Dashe, Barbara L. Hoffman, Catherine Y. Spong and Brian M. Casey · 26th editionThe principal obstetrics reference for antenatal care, labour management and maternal complications.
  6. DC Dutta's Textbook of Obstetrics, Including Perinatology and ContraceptionHiralal Konar · 11th editionStandard Indian obstetrics text used for routine antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care.
  7. Howkins & Bourne: Shaw's Textbook of GynaecologyRuchika Garg, V. G. Padubidri and Shirish N. Daftary · 19th editionWidely used Indian gynaecology textbook covering reproductive health, contraception and family planning.
  8. Arias' Practical Guide to High-Risk Pregnancy and Delivery: A South Asian PerspectiveFernando Arias, Amarnath G. Bhide, Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, Kaizad Damania and Shirish N. Daftary · 5th editionReference for identifying and managing high-risk pregnancy, a central maternal health competency.
  9. Cloherty and Stark's Manual of Neonatal CareAnne R. Hansen, Ann R. Stark, Eric C. Eichenwald and Camilia R. Martin · 9th editionPractical bedside manual for newborn care and neonatal unit protocols.
  10. Care of the NewbornMeharban Singh · 9th editionThe standard Indian neonatology text used across newborn care units and teaching departments.
  11. AIIMS Protocols in NeonatologyRamesh Agarwal, Ashok Deorari, Vinod K. Paul, M. Jeeva Sankar and Anu Sachdeva · 3rd editionTwo-volume protocol set used in Indian newborn units for standardised neonatal management.
  12. Community Medicine with Recent AdvancesA. H. Suryakantha · 8th editionDetailed community medicine text used for national health programmes and MCH service delivery.
  13. Textbook of Community Medicine: Preventive and Social MedicineSunder Lal, Adarsh and Pankaj · 8th editionIndian community medicine textbook with strong coverage of maternal and child health programme management.
  14. Nutrition and Child DevelopmentK. E. Elizabeth · 7th editionStandard Indian text on infant and child nutrition, growth monitoring and developmental assessment.
  15. Pregnancy, Childbirth, Postpartum and Newborn Care: A Guide for Essential PracticeWorld Health Organization · 3rd editionWHO decision-support guide defining essential practice across the whole maternal and newborn continuum of care.
  16. IMNCI: Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness - Training Modules and Chart BookletMinistry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, with WHO and UNICEFOfficial training material defining the assess-classify-treat approach used in Indian child health services.
  17. Navjaat Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (NSSK) Training Manual: Basic Newborn Care and ResuscitationMinistry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of IndiaNational training manual for newborn resuscitation and essential care at birth.
What residents actually use

Current editions, and what each one is for

The books most residents actually buy. These are the editions in circulation now, with a note on whether each is something you read cover to cover, keep as a reference, or open only for the viva.

  1. Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social MedicineK. Park · 28th edition · core referenceThe backbone text for MCH epidemiology, indicators, national programmes and demography.
  2. D.C. Dutta's Textbook of ObstetricsHiralal Konar (ed.) · 10th edition · core referenceStandard Indian obstetrics text for antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care content.
  3. Williams ObstetricsCunningham, Leveno, Dashe et al. · 26th edition · core referenceConsulted for depth and evidence on high-risk pregnancy and obstetric complications.
  4. Ghai Essential PediatricsVinod K. Paul, Arvind Bagga (eds) · 10th edition · core referencePrimary Indian paediatrics text covering growth, development, nutrition, immunisation and common childhood illness.
  5. Nelson Textbook of PediatricsKliegman, St Geme et al. · 22nd edition · core referenceReference for depth on paediatric disease when Ghai is insufficient for seminars and theory.
  6. Cloherty and Stark's Manual of Neonatal CareEichenwald, Hansen, Martin, Stark · 9th edition · practical/wardWorking manual for newborn care, resuscitation and neonatal problems in the labour room and SNCU.
  7. IAP Textbook of PediatricsIndian Academy of Pediatrics · India-specificAligns paediatric practice with Indian guidelines, IAP immunisation schedule and national programmes.
  8. Textbook of Community MedicineSunder Lal, Adarsh, Pankaj · supplementaryUseful complement to Park for programme implementation detail and field practice.
  9. MoHFW MCH guidelines: RMNCAH+N, LaQshya, SUMAN, JSY, RBSK, FBNC, NSSKMinistry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India · latest edition · guideline/statutoryProgramme documents are examined directly; residents must quote targets, indicators and service-delivery norms.
  10. WHO Recommendations on Antenatal, Intrapartum and Postnatal Care; IMNCI chart bookletsWHO / MoHFW · latest edition · guidelineGlobal standard-of-care recommendations used for protocol-based case management and audit.
Reading plan

What to read, and when

Three years is less time than it sounds. The order below is what works for most DNB Maternal & Child Health residents — broad and readable first, reference-level later, revision and drilling last.

Year 1

Build the base

Build the clinical base - D.C. Dutta for obstetrics and Ghai for paediatrics - while doing labour room, SNCU and immunisation clinic postings; simultaneously read Park for MCH indicators and national programmes. Register the thesis protocol.

Year 2

Go deep, collect thesis data

Add depth from Williams Obstetrics and Nelson, master the MoHFW and WHO guideline documents (RMNCAH+N, IMNCI, LaQshya, FBNC), and begin field/community postings with journal club from Indian Pediatrics and Lancet Global Health.

Year 3

Revise, drill, submit

Revise Park and the national programme guidelines intensively since they dominate theory and viva, drill obstetric and paediatric cases and skill stations (partograph, NSSK, growth charts, IMNCI), and submit the thesis before practicals.

Thesis

References for your thesis

Protocol, methodology and reporting standards examiners expect you to have followed.

  • ICMR National Ethical Guidelines (2017)
  • NBEMS Thesis Protocol Submission Guidelines
  • NFHS-5/NFHS-6 reports and SRS maternal and infant mortality bulletins
  • HMIS and RCH portal data
  • MoHFW RMNCAH+N operational guidelines; MDSR and Child Death Review guidelines
  • WHO Reproductive Health Library and WHO antenatal/intrapartum care recommendations
  • STROBE, CONSORT and PRISMA reporting statements
  • Methods in Biostatistics - B.K. Mahajan; Research Methodology - C.R. Kothari
Practical & viva

What the practical actually tests

Books and material specifically useful for the clinical, spotter and viva stations.

  • Antenatal case: history, obstetric examination, risk stratification, investigations and management
  • Intrapartum management: partograph plotting, active management of third stage, PPH drill, obstructed labour
  • Newborn assessment: APGAR, gestational age, neonatal resuscitation (NSSK/NRP) on manikin, KMC, breastfeeding counselling
  • Growth and development: WHO/IAP growth charts, anthropometry, milestones, MUAC and SAM/MAM classification
  • IMNCI/F-IMNCI algorithm on a sick child; ORS and diarrhoea/pneumonia management
  • Immunisation: UIP schedule, cold chain, AEFI, vaccine vial monitor
  • Family planning methods, counselling, IUCD insertion and implants
  • National programme viva: RMNCAH+N, JSY/JSSK, SUMAN, LaQshya, RBSK, POSHAN Abhiyaan, PC-PNDT Act, MTP Act
  • MCH indicators: MMR, IMR, NMR, U5MR, TFR, CPR, sex ratio - definitions, current figures, sources
Printed in our shop

Maternal & Child Health books we print most often

These are the maternal & child health titles residents send us to print most often — the books that actually come through the shop, alongside the official list above.

We print files you send us. We do not host, sell or supply book PDFs — send us a file you are entitled to print and we print and bind it.

Frequently asked

DNB Maternal & Child Health books — questions

Which books should I read for DNB Maternal & Child Health?

The titles on this page are the ones residents and departments actually use, each with the edition in circulation now. Start with the first one listed and add the references as your reading deepens.

Which single book should I start with in first year of DNB Maternal & Child Health?

Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine by K. Park is the usual anchor. The backbone text for MCH epidemiology, indicators, national programmes and demography.

Are the editions listed here current?

Yes — we list the edition in circulation now for each title. Editions move quickly, so confirm the current one before you buy or print.

Do I need to buy every book on the list?

No. Most residents own three or four and use the department or library copy for the rest. That is exactly why printing selected chapters from a PDF works out cheaper than buying volumes you will open twice.

Can you print these books for me?

We print from the PDF you send us. Send the file on WhatsApp with your page count and whether you want colour, black and white or mixed, and we print, bind and deliver anywhere in India. We do not supply copyrighted book files.

How much does it cost to print a set of notes?

Black and white is 50 paise per page, colour is Rs 1 per page, and binding is Rs 40 per copy. A 400-page mixed set with binding usually works out around Rs 300 plus delivery.

Printing your DNB Maternal & Child Health reading?

Send the PDF on WhatsApp — colour Rs 1/page, B&W 50p/page, binding Rs 40. Printed, bound and delivered anywhere in India.

Other specialties

Book guides for all 30 DNB broad specialties