Twelve infant deaths in Attappady highlight tribal health emergency

Twelve infants, including ten from tribal families, died in Attappady, Kerala, in the past few months, prompting the state government to order an expert probe.

What Happened

The deaths add to a record of 124 infant fatalities in the region since 2011, according to tribal activists. Between 2012 and now the area has also seen about 300 abortions, 90 intra‑uterine deaths and roughly 24 stillbirths. In 2013 a spike of 47 tribal infant deaths drew attention, and tribal observers say around ten children die each year on average.

Reaction

The state government has announced an expert assessment to examine the causes. Tribal organisations, however, argue that the problem runs deeper than medical care. They call for sustained action on nutrition, maternal health, landlessness and the broader socio‑economic conditions of the tribal community.

Background

Maternal health in Attappady is poor; anemia is widespread among pregnant women and many mothers are underweight, leading to low‑birth‑weight newborns that are more vulnerable. These factors increase the risk of infant mortality.

Context

Attappady’s tribal population has long faced poverty, limited access to health services and insecure land tenure, which together create an environment where health interventions alone cannot stop infant deaths.