01-05-2025
Health indicators improve in Trichy, still trails state average
Trichy: Key health indicators in Tamil Nadu, including the
Maternal Mortality Rate
(MMR) and
Infant Mortality Rate
(IMR), continue to show improvement, with Trichy district reflecting a similar trend. However, the district's figures remain above the state average.
Data from the Trichy district health office shows maternal mortality declined from 67.5 to 45.6 per one lakh live births between 2023–24 and 2024–25 (April to March). The IMR saw a marginal drop from 10.8 to 10.5 during the same period. Live births in the district also fell slightly, from 32,569 to 30,716.
Statewide, 320 maternal deaths were reported in 2024–25, of which 14 occurred in Trichy. Out of more than 6,000 infant deaths in Tamil Nadu, 321 were from Trichy.
Health officials attribute the improvement to enhanced maternal and childcare services, particularly the district-level 'war rooms' and home-based care programmes. Trichy's war room, located at the district collectorate, makes around 300 calls daily to track high-risk pregnancies. From the 35th week of gestation, officials ensure weekly follow-ups, checking for anaemia, nutrition, and other health markers. Women are advised to get admitted to nearby health centres about 10 days before their expected delivery.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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For newborn care, the Home-Based Newborn Care (HBNC) and Home-Based Care for Young Children (HBYC) schemes have been pivotal. Under HBNC, health nurses make six home visits within the first 45 days after birth. HBYC adds five more visits over the next 18 months. These check-ups cover early signs of illness, low birth weight, developmental delays, breastfeeding guidance, immunisation, and nutrition.
Despite these efforts, Trichy's MMR (45.6) and IMR (10.5) remain higher than the state averages of 39.6 and 7.5, respectively. "There has been a consistent decline, and the trend is encouraging," a senior district health official told TOI. "Our goal is to match or surpass the state average in the coming year."
Other indicators, such as the sex ratio and stillbirth rate, have also improved. The sex ratio at birth, which dipped to 933 females per 1,000 males in 2023–24, has returned to 948 in 2024–25 — the same level as in 2022–23. Officials dismissed speculation linking the earlier dip to sex-selective abortions, citing increased surveillance of scan centres and early registration of pregnant women on the PICME portal. "There have been no complaints in the past year. Regular awareness campaigns against sex-selective abortion are also ongoing," the official said.
