Kozhikode hospital sees decline in deliveries, C-section rates stay high
The Government Hospital for Women and Children at Kottaparamba in Kozhikode, Kerala, has recorded a significant decline in the number of deliveries over the past five years, according to data obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) query. The data also show that while the number of C-section deliveries has fallen, the proportion remains above the World Health Organisation's (WHO) recommended level.
Health department figures reveal that the hospital recorded 5,201 deliveries in 2020-21 — 2,729 normal and 2,472 C-section. By 2025-26, the total dropped to 2,238, of which 1,387 were normal and 851 were C-sections. The hospital serves a large population from the urban areas of Kozhikode.
Between 2020-21 and 2022-23, C-section deliveries were particularly high. In 2020-21, 2,472 out of 5,201 deliveries were C-sections. In 2021-22, the count was 1,841 out of 3,552, and in 2022-23, it stood at 1,148 out of 2,205 deliveries.
Although the number of C-section deliveries declined in subsequent years, the rate remained higher than the WHO's ideal population-level range of 10-15%. Satheesh Parannur, chairman of the Kozhikode-based rights organisation Pouravakasha Samrakshana Samithi, who sought the data through the RTI query, claims the rate is even higher than the national average of 21.5%.
The data also indicate a sharp fall in total deliveries over a broader period. Mr. Parannur noted that deliveries dropped by 61% from 5,201 in 2020-21 to 2,019 in 2023-24. The number saw a slight rise to 2,238 in 2025-26, but remained below 2020-21 levels.
According to the RTI data, in-patient admissions at the hospital fell from 8,315 in 2020-21 to 4,683 in 2023-24. The following year, admissions rose to 5,089, before dropping again to 4,838 in 2025-26. In contrast, outpatient (OP) footfall increased substantially — from 81,329 in 2020-21 to 1,55,257 in 2024-25, with a slight decline to 1,50,305 in 2025-26.
Mr. Parannur said that while many people may visit the hospital for consultations and medicines, some appear unwilling to get admitted for deliveries. He has urged the Health department to conduct a detailed inquiry into the decline in deliveries and in-patient admissions to understand the underlying reasons.
