Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala recorded 455 infant and child deaths, including 358 infant deaths, in the first five months of 2026, while 312 stillbirths were reported during the period, according to state govt figures.Figures from the women and child development department show May recorded the highest number of infant (aged up to one year) and child (aged one to 18 years) deaths at 102, comprising 76 infant and 26 child deaths. The combined monthly figure was 93 in Jan, 82 in Feb, 91 in March and 87 in April. Infant deaths stood at 71 in Jan, 66 in Feb, 74 in March, 71 in April and 76 in May. Of the 358 infant deaths, 196 were male and 162 female.Child deaths totalled 97 over the five months, including 61 male and 36 female. Monthly figures were 22 in Jan, 16 in Feb, 17 in March, 16 in April and 26 in May. Stillbirths — babies born without signs of life — totalled 312 for the period, with Jan recording the highest number at 82, followed by 62 in Feb, 48 in March, 67 in April and 53 in May.The state recorded 91,910 live births during the five months—18,732 in Jan, 17,970 in Feb, 19,035 in March, 19,501 in April and 16,672 in May. These figures come against Kerala’s relatively low infant mortality rate. Govt figures based on NFHS-6 put the national infant mortality rate at 25 per 1,000 live births, compared with 8 in Kerala. A state-level assessment separately recorded 1,593 infant deaths among 3,21,223 births, putting Kerala’s infant mortality rate at 5 per 1,000 live births.Kerala had set a target of bringing the infant mortality rate down to 12 per 1,000 live births by 2030, and the present rate means the target has already been achieved.A senior official of the directorate of women and child development said the govt was taking a comprehensive approach to child protection, with the focus extending beyond preventing deaths to ensuring the safety, care and rights of vulnerable children.Mission Vatsalya, the official said, was being used to bring different child-protection mechanisms together and strengthen support for children below 18 who require care and protection.The official said the programme was being implemented through the State Child Protection Society under the women and child development department, with interventions aimed at protecting children’s rights and addressing the needs of children requiring care and protection.
