<p>Thiruvananthapuram: The death of a 35-year-old woman in Kerala reportedly after delivery at home has once again brought to focus the home-births and associated deaths still happening in Kerala even as the state boasts of nearly 100 per cent institutional deliveries.</p><p>Malappuram native Asma died during her fifth delivery at her rented home at Chittiparamba in Malappuram district on Saturday evening. Her husband Sirajuddin took her body to his native place Perumbavoor near Kochi by late night. The police swiftly acted and shifted the body to hospital for postmortem examination and registered a case of unnatural death. The newborn was also shifted to the hospital.</p>.MBBS student found dead in hostel, suicide suspected in Kerala.<p>As per state heath department data, 18 infants died in the state from 2021 to 2024 following home-birth. Two women also died during home-birth during the period. From 2020 to 2024, a total of 2,931 home-births were reported in the state, says a reply given by the state health department to lawyer and activist Kulathoor Jaisingh under the RTI Act. </p><p>Home deliveries have been quite prevalent in Malappuram district in Kerala and a doctor working in the district had even moved the Kerala High Court seeking regulations. As per the data, out of the 2,931 home births, 1,337 were in Malappuram district.</p><p>A senior health department official of Malappuram said that apart from religious reasons, influence of alternative and traditional medicine practitioners were also found to be reasons why many women undergo home-birth. </p>.Walk like chained dogs, lick coins from floor: Kerala firm accused of 'torturing' underperforming employees.<p>Dr Pratibha K, who had approached the Kerala High Court, said that the rights of a child in mother's womb also need to be protected. "Hence, there should be regulations for home-births. Unless the government brings in some regulations, the health department and police cannot act effectively against it," she pointed out.</p><p>Dr Pratibha, who extensively worked in Malappuram district, also said that though a major chunk of the women who undergo home-birth were from a specific community, it was not only due to religious beliefs but also due to influence of alternative and traditional medicine practitioners who offer "painless" delivery. </p><p>Recently, there were also reports that a religious outfit organised a meet in Kozhikode district to honour women who gave birth to children at their homes and termed them as "brave women". Health department sources said that a similar outfit is also planning to organise a much bigger event soon to honour women who delivered at home.</p><p>Police sources in Kozhikode said that though they came across reports regarding the gathering organised by a religious outfit to honour women who gave birth at home, they could not trace the details yet. </p>
<p>Thiruvananthapuram: The death of a 35-year-old woman in Kerala reportedly after delivery at home has once again brought to focus the home-births and associated deaths still happening in Kerala even as the state boasts of nearly 100 per cent institutional deliveries.</p><p>Malappuram native Asma died during her fifth delivery at her rented home at Chittiparamba in Malappuram district on Saturday evening. Her husband Sirajuddin took her body to his native place Perumbavoor near Kochi by late night. The police swiftly acted and shifted the body to hospital for postmortem examination and registered a case of unnatural death. The newborn was also shifted to the hospital.</p>.MBBS student found dead in hostel, suicide suspected in Kerala.<p>As per state heath department data, 18 infants died in the state from 2021 to 2024 following home-birth. Two women also died during home-birth during the period. From 2020 to 2024, a total of 2,931 home-births were reported in the state, says a reply given by the state health department to lawyer and activist Kulathoor Jaisingh under the RTI Act. </p><p>Home deliveries have been quite prevalent in Malappuram district in Kerala and a doctor working in the district had even moved the Kerala High Court seeking regulations. As per the data, out of the 2,931 home births, 1,337 were in Malappuram district.</p><p>A senior health department official of Malappuram said that apart from religious reasons, influence of alternative and traditional medicine practitioners were also found to be reasons why many women undergo home-birth. </p>.Walk like chained dogs, lick coins from floor: Kerala firm accused of 'torturing' underperforming employees.<p>Dr Pratibha K, who had approached the Kerala High Court, said that the rights of a child in mother's womb also need to be protected. "Hence, there should be regulations for home-births. Unless the government brings in some regulations, the health department and police cannot act effectively against it," she pointed out.</p><p>Dr Pratibha, who extensively worked in Malappuram district, also said that though a major chunk of the women who undergo home-birth were from a specific community, it was not only due to religious beliefs but also due to influence of alternative and traditional medicine practitioners who offer "painless" delivery. </p><p>Recently, there were also reports that a religious outfit organised a meet in Kozhikode district to honour women who gave birth to children at their homes and termed them as "brave women". Health department sources said that a similar outfit is also planning to organise a much bigger event soon to honour women who delivered at home.</p><p>Police sources in Kozhikode said that though they came across reports regarding the gathering organised by a religious outfit to honour women who gave birth at home, they could not trace the details yet. </p>