Kerala home birth debate resurfaces after newborn’s death in Kottayam; 14 cases reported in January

Vaikom: The issue of home births has once again come under discussion in Kerala following the tragic death of a newborn during a recent delivery in Kottayam district. Despite growing concerns, the Health Department has yet to issue clear government guidelines discouraging home births.

The incident has once again raised questions about safety and medical support during childbirth outside hospitals.

According to information provided by the Health Department in response to an RTI filed by High Court lawyer Adv Kulathoor Jaisingh, Kerala recorded 14 home births in January 2026 alone. Out of these, three newborn deaths were reported.

The data further shows that between January 2025 and January 2026, a total of 202 home births took place in the state. During this period, nine newborn deaths were recorded.

Details of the latest case

In the recent incident, Karthika, a 36-year-old woman from Vaikom, gave birth at home on Saturday. The baby died shortly after birth. Karthika was later admitted to Kottayam Medical College Hospital in a serious condition due to health complications.

Social activist Dr K Prathibha has demanded a proper investigation into the incident. She has also submitted a complaint to the Chief Secretary.

Dr Prathibha, who works as an assistant surgeon at Thanoor Government Taluk Hospital in Malappuram, has been leading efforts to push for guidelines to discourage home births.

Existing government advisory and concerns over enforcement

The Local Self Government Department had issued a circular last year to increase awareness against home births. It clearly stated that home delivery is risky for both mother and child and that institutional delivery should be encouraged.

However, concerns remain that there are lapses in identifying pregnant women avoiding hospitals and in reporting such cases to the Health Department for timely action.

Dr Prathibha has also suggested stricter steps, including legal action in cases where harm occurs during home births. She has argued that such cases should be examined under serious legal provisions where necessary.