{
  "id": 10636435,
  "title": "Young men dying as they don't get pregnant: TN data",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/young-men-dying-as-they-dont-get-pregnant-tn-data",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-29T06:36:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/young-men-are-dying-because-they-dont-get-pregnant-regular-health-checks-around-childbirth-detect-diseases-in-women-early-while-many-men-dont-check-diabetes-bp-until-40/articleshow/134558297.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tamil Nadu officials attribute a significant portion of the gap in male and female deaths to the fact that men rarely seek medical checkups until they are in their forties. Public health experts note that women are screened during pregnancy and after delivery, allowing early detection of potential health risks such as diabetes and high blood pressure. In contrast, men typically only visit a doctor when something goes wrong, often in their later years.\n\nThe state's data shows that the mortality gap between men and women in Tamil Nadu widens throughout the working years. From ages 15 to 64, there are substantially more male deaths than female deaths, with the difference being most pronounced among men aged 15-64, accounting for nearly 86 percent of the total gender gap. Dr. T S Selvavinayagam, a former public health director, attributes this to an epidemic of strokes, heart attacks, and renal failure in younger men.\n\nRoad crashes and suicides are the leading causes of death among young and middle-aged men in Tamil Nadu, claiming nearly 100 lives daily. Dr. T Sundararaman, a former executive director, points out that road safety in the state is particularly poor, with many men relying on motorcycles for work. Chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney failure, respiratory illness, and alcohol and tobacco-related diseases become leading causes of death in the middle years.\n\nMany men avoid hospitals because of the potential loss of daily wages, rather than a fear of medical facilities. To address this issue, the state has introduced evening clinics for working men who cannot take time off during the day. These clinics aim to diagnose and manage blood sugar and blood pressure in men, helping to prevent the onset of serious health issues.\n\nWhen compared to Sweden, where male and female deaths are almost equal, Tamil Nadu's numbers reveal a stark contrast. While Sweden recorded nearly equal male and female deaths in 2025, 42 percent of male deaths occurred before age 65, compared to only 10 percent in Tamil Nadu. Health Secretary Darez Ahamed explains that this pattern highlights when deaths occur, rather than simply indicating a higher mortality risk for men.\n\nCertification of deaths in Tamil Nadu remains incomplete, with only 41 percent of registered deaths medically certified. This lack of proper documentation makes it challenging to track causes of death accurately. Dr. Abishek Stanislaus, a state nosologist, emphasizes the need for a detailed review of death causes to identify targeted interventions. The state is currently working on improving the process of verbal autopsy for deaths occurring outside hospital settings.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}