Chennai: Tamil Nadu has consolidated its standing as a leader in maternal and child health, with institutional deliveries now near universal, but the state faces a mounting challenge from obesity, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6, 2023–24) shows.
The survey reports institutional births at 99.7 per cent in Tamil Nadu, well above the national average of 90.6 per cent, with minimal rural–urban disparity (99.6 per cent rural, 99.8 per cent urban). These figures reflect the strength of the state’s healthcare network and have contributed to low maternal and infant mortality.
However, lifestyle-related illnesses are on the rise. Nearly 44.2 per cent of women aged 15–49 in the state are overweight or obese, up from 40.5 per cent in the previous round and far higher than the national average of 30.7 per cent. In urban areas almost one in two women is overweight or obese. Among men, 38.8 per cent are in the overweight or obese category, compared with 27.3 per cent nationally.
Correspondingly, elevated blood sugar levels are more prevalent: about 25.2 per cent of women and 26.7 per cent of men in Tamil Nadu have high or very high blood sugar, both above national averages. Public health experts warn this trend could increase hospital admissions, healthcare costs and premature mortality over time.
Former WHO chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan has urged a stronger focus on primary healthcare, prioritising prevention, early diagnosis and timely intervention rather than relying solely on tertiary care.
The survey also highlights worrying maternal health indicators. Rates of gestational diabetes and pregnancy induced hypertension have risen, and caesarean deliveries now account for 46.9 per cent of births in the state, far exceeding the national rate of 27.2 per cent. While timely surgical interventions have helped reduce mortality, some prenatal care measures have slipped: early pregnancy registration in the first trimester fell from 77.4 per cent to 71.2 per cent, and the share of women completing at least four antenatal visits dropped from 90.6 per cent to 87.6 per cent.
Taken together, the findings suggest Tamil Nadu’s next major public health task is not expanding access, but curbing the growth of lifestyle diseases and restoring comprehensive prenatal care to safeguard long term maternal and child health.
(Inputs from IANS)