<p>A study has found that 41 per cent of children who die do so within the first four weeks of their birth. Over half of the 3.9 million newborn deaths globally occur in India, Nigeria, Pakistan, China and the Democratic Republic of Congo. With over 9,00,000 newborn babies dying here annually, India accounts for the largest number of newborn deaths. <br />The study, which was conducted by researchers at the World Health Organisation (WHO), Save the Children and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, had some positive findings too. The number of new born deaths has fallen from 4.6 million in 1990 to 3.3 million in 2009, a heartening 28 per cent drop. However, the fall in newborn mortality rate has not kept pace with the fall in maternal mortality rate or child mortality rate. Most newborn deaths are caused by preterm delivery, asphyxia and severe infections. None of these are untreatable. They can be easily prevented. Thus the majority of the 3.3 newborns could have survived with a little bit of care. Their deaths were by and large preventable.<br /><br />India can take heart that its newborn mortality rate is falling. Statistics indicate that it fell by 33 per cent between 1990 and 2009. Yet the fact that 900,000 newborns are dying needlessly is reason for concern. The first four weeks are a critical period for a newborn. Taking care of a newborn during this period does not require much investment in medical technology. All the newborn needs at this time are warmth and milk as well as clean and hygienic surroundings to minimise the chances of contracting infections.<br /><br />An important reason for high deaths of newborns in India is that many especially in rural India deliver their children at home. Distance from hospitals or the costs involved keep many pregnant women from going to a trained health care specialist for their delivery. In the circumstances, deliveries are conducted by untrained midwives. Many babies and mothers thus contract infections, which worsen over the weeks, even resulting in the death of the newborn. Death of newborns can be improved by encouraging hospital deliveries. The government is providing incentives to get pregnant women to come to hospitals as this will draw the babies into immunisation too. However, awareness of the multiple benefits of hospital deliveries is still limited. India needs to do more to prevent its youngest citizens from dying needlessly.</p>
<p>A study has found that 41 per cent of children who die do so within the first four weeks of their birth. Over half of the 3.9 million newborn deaths globally occur in India, Nigeria, Pakistan, China and the Democratic Republic of Congo. With over 9,00,000 newborn babies dying here annually, India accounts for the largest number of newborn deaths. <br />The study, which was conducted by researchers at the World Health Organisation (WHO), Save the Children and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, had some positive findings too. The number of new born deaths has fallen from 4.6 million in 1990 to 3.3 million in 2009, a heartening 28 per cent drop. However, the fall in newborn mortality rate has not kept pace with the fall in maternal mortality rate or child mortality rate. Most newborn deaths are caused by preterm delivery, asphyxia and severe infections. None of these are untreatable. They can be easily prevented. Thus the majority of the 3.3 newborns could have survived with a little bit of care. Their deaths were by and large preventable.<br /><br />India can take heart that its newborn mortality rate is falling. Statistics indicate that it fell by 33 per cent between 1990 and 2009. Yet the fact that 900,000 newborns are dying needlessly is reason for concern. The first four weeks are a critical period for a newborn. Taking care of a newborn during this period does not require much investment in medical technology. All the newborn needs at this time are warmth and milk as well as clean and hygienic surroundings to minimise the chances of contracting infections.<br /><br />An important reason for high deaths of newborns in India is that many especially in rural India deliver their children at home. Distance from hospitals or the costs involved keep many pregnant women from going to a trained health care specialist for their delivery. In the circumstances, deliveries are conducted by untrained midwives. Many babies and mothers thus contract infections, which worsen over the weeks, even resulting in the death of the newborn. Death of newborns can be improved by encouraging hospital deliveries. The government is providing incentives to get pregnant women to come to hospitals as this will draw the babies into immunisation too. However, awareness of the multiple benefits of hospital deliveries is still limited. India needs to do more to prevent its youngest citizens from dying needlessly.</p>
