8 pc Nagpur kids were born at home in 8217;98: Study

NAGPUR, March 12: Despite all the medical facilities available at government hospitals, a substantial number of women here have had to de...

NAGPUR, March 12: Despite all the medical facilities available at government hospitals, a substantial number of women here have had to deliver their child at home, a study has revealed. In 1998, about eight per cent of the new births in the city took place at homes probably without any medical aid.

Not surprisingly, maximum of these cases have been registered in the localities coming under the Maskasath zone of Nagpur Municipal Corporation NMC, which has the largest population living in slums.

These statistics, speaking poorly of the availability of health services and awareness among citizens, are part of several startling facts thrown up in the analysis of records maintained by the model vital and health statistics unit of the birth and death registration department of NMC.

Statistics show that of the total 54,453 children registered to have been born in the city during 1998, 4,228 were born at their residences, or more specifically out of hospital. Of these, 1,779 children were registered at the Maskasath zone office of the NMC.

Residential births are indicative of the fact that either medical aid was not available to the mother or they were not aware enough to go to hospital for delivery.

Among others, the figures for the decade show that though the birth rate is slightly increasing at six per cent, the sex ratio is actually going down, with only 914 female children registered per 1,000 male children as against the ratio of 918 recorded during the 1991 census. Community-wise, only the Sikh community has shown a reverse trend, with the sex ratio of 1023.81. The Jain community has fared the worst recording only 625 female children per 1,000 males.

One of the most startling facts is that only one Parsi child was born in the city during 1998. Only 21 Parsi children were registered to have been born in the city during this decade 1991-98.

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Religion-wise, predictably 84 per cent of the children born in 1998 were Hindus, 11 per cent Muslims, followed by others such as Christians and Buddhists.

Notably, the age of the mother at the time of the first delivery has shown rise over the years, with the average age in 1998 being 23. Maximum number of births have been recorded with the age of the mother ranging from 21 to 30 years. The occurrence of monthly birth rate during the year is uniform.

However, Government hospitals have fared badly as far as timely registration of children is concerned. The percentage of delayed registration more than one year after birth is 10 per cent, to which the Government Hospital contribute to about 73 per cent.

The highest number of births, however, have been recorded at private hospitals, followed closely by Government Medical College GMC and Daga Hospital.

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Although complete statistics about deaths in the city is not available, a total of 16,710 deaths were recorded in city. Interestingly, the highest number of deaths were recorded in the months of May, June and July.

A release by the NMC mentioned that while the work of providing computerised birth certificates was started from April 1, 1998, the issuance of computerised death certificates have been started recently.

Officials of the Health Statistics Department of Central and State governments are also provided training at the unit centre in city.