Nagpur: Nagpur city has witnessed a positive shift in the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) with an increase of 1,240 female newborns in 2023, as per official data from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s Birth and Death Department. This marks a notable improvement compared to the dip observed in 2022.
In 2023, Nagpur recorded a total of 52,490 births, showcasing an increase from 51,882 and 43,279 in the preceding two years. Notably, Nagpur recorded nearly 800 fewer live female births in 2022 despite an overall increase of 8,603 newborns.
Wenesday Rate
Wed 25 Dec. 2024
The Sex Ratio at Birth had experienced a decline in 2022, dropping to 92.34 or 923 females per 1,000 males, raising concerns about the effective implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. However, in 2023, the SRB scaled to 94.72 or 947 females per 1,000 males, coming closer to the expected range of 952/1,000.
In an effort to streamline the birth and death registration process, the State Government authorized tertiary care centres, including Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), IGGMCH, and Daga Memorial Women’s Hospital, to issue birth and death certificates. This move aims to ensure accurate and timely documentation.
The number of live births had been declining since 2018 but saw a rise in 2022, attributed to the PCPNDT Act. In 2023, the city recorded 26,534 female births against 26,956 males, resulting in a sex ratio of 94.72%. The difference of 24 points indicates an increase of 1,243 female newborns out of the total 52,490 births. Before the pandemic, the city’s birth rate grew at an average 54,000 per year since 2016 as per the NMC data. This has come down to 48,000 per year now.
The improved Sex Ratio at Birth in Nagpur City, particularly in 2023, is a positive development, demonstrating the effectiveness of measures taken to address concerns raised by the dip in SRB in 2022. The authorization of tertiary care centres for issuing birth and death certificates and the implementation of the PCPNDT Act have played crucial roles in this improvement.
