Telangana tops in neonatal deaths in India: UNICEF

PSM News /

Hyderabad, November 2016:

 

The newly formed state of Telangana tops in neonatal and infant mortality rate in India. According to a recent report released by The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the state of Telangana tops in neonatal deaths of babies which accounts an average of 15, 700 deaths annually.

 

Of this 8,478 infants are reported to have born still (died in the womb). The main reason for these deaths is pre-mature deliveries by the pregnant women. According to World Health Organization (WHO), a neonatal death is defined as the death of a baby within the first 28 days of life and perinatal mortality is referred to as stillbirths, while the baby is still in the womb.

 

Vakaati Karuna, state health and family welfare commissioner, Government of Telangana, said, “Main reason for the neonatal deaths is due to mal nutrition among the pregnant women. Moreover, out of every 1,000 deliveries more than 30 per cent pregnant women are under the age group of 15-19 years. As the reproductive system is not developed well under this age group, the possibility of neonatal deaths is very high for them. To overcome this, a comprehensive awareness programme needs to be evolved wherein doctors, nurses, other healthcare workers and social activists must work together to spread the knowledge among pregnant women.”

 

Every year there are 6.20 lakh babies are born in Telangana of them 25 out of 1,000 births are dying within 28 days of their life. It is also revealed that 50 per cent of these deaths are mainly because of pre-mature deliveries among the pregnant women. In fact pregnant women will carry baby in the womb for 9 months i.e. up to 37 weeks and if a baby is born before the maturity of 37 weeks than it is considered as pre-mature delivery.

 

All over India, the average pre-mature deliveries are at 35 per cent. However this rate is more than 54 per cent in Telangana. UNICEF report opined that 75 per cent of pre-mature delivered babies with less weight can be saved if the governments set up more number of special care centers called sick new born care units (SNCU) in the hospitals. Pharmabiz