Days after the death of a woman from Tirupur who attempted to deliver her child at home following YouTube video instructions, the Directorate of Public Health has issued a notice against conducting such home deliveries.
Director of Public Health Dr K Kolandaswamy said in the notice that only medical personnel qualified to conduct the deliveries could undertake them. The list of qualified personnel include MBBS doctors, midwives, nurses and staff nurses trained under the Indian Nursing Council, auxiliary nurse midwives, and village health nurses.
The notice strictly warned against the use of YouTube videos to undertake a home delivery.
“This is an outright violation of women and childrens’ rights,” said Dr Kolandaswamy, speaking to TNM, adding that refusing to admit a pregnant woman in the appropriate healthcare facility for her delivery was an offence under the Indian Penal Code.
Earlier, news of 28-year-old Krithuga’s death shocked many after it was reported that she had pregnancy-related complications after supposedly trying to deliver her child at her residence.
It later came to be known that she and her husband had allegedly watched YouTube videos on home-birth.
Krithiga died due to excessive bleeding on July 22, after delivering the baby.
The couple allegedly had been convinced by their friends, Praveen and Lavanya, who reportedly followed ‘natural practices.’
According to the notice issued by the department, public health officers have the authority to protect the well-being of the mother and the child under section 82.
Tamil Nadu is among three states in India with a Maternal Mortality Rate that is within the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of 70. While Tamil Nadu stands at 66, Kerala is at 46 and Maharashtra at 61.