A report on preterm birth titled, ‘Born too Soon: Decade of Action on Preterm Birth’ was published. It named India as one among the top five countries where babies are born preterm. In this article, we discuss the meaning of ‘preterm birth’, what causes it and suggestions to reduce such births. This topic is important for the IAS exam health and social issues segments.
What is Preterm Birth?
It is defined as birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Why is preterm birth a problem?
- It is a serious condition that can have long-term health consequences for babies.
- Preterm babies are more likely to have respiratory problems, heart problems, brain problems, and learning disabilities.
- They are also more likely to die in the first few years of life.
Born too Soon: Decade of Action on Preterm Birth
The World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund, and Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) collaborated to produce this report.
Findings of the report:
- Prevalence of preterm births and mortality rates
- Complications from preterm birth resulted in the deaths of almost one million babies out of the estimated 13.4 million born prematurely in 2020.
- India, Pakistan, Nigeria, China, and Ethiopia accounted for 45% of babies born too soon globally.
- This puts these babies at a high risk of mortality and poses a “silent emergency” for their survival and health.
- A preterm birth is happening every two seconds, resulting in the death of one premature baby every 40 seconds.
- Bangladesh had the highest estimated preterm birth rate (16.2%), followed by Malawi and Pakistan.
- The highest number of preterm births was reported in India, with 30.16 lakh cases, followed by Pakistan, Nigeria and China.
- Region-wise break-up of preterm births in India
- West Bengal reported 16% of preterm births, followed by Tamil Nadu (14%) and Gujarat (9%).
- Lack of progress in reducing preterm birth rates globally
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- There has been no change in preterm birth rates in any region of the world over the past few decades.
- The preterm birth rate worldwide remained the same at 9.9% in 2020 as it was in 2010.
- Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa collectively account for over 65% of preterm births globally.
Causes of Preterm Births in India
- Lack of expansive infrastructure for neonatal care in rural areas.
- Lifestyle changes, chronic diseases, and IVF pregnancies contribute to increased preterm births in urban areas.
- Reduced fertility levels and assisted pregnancies also carry the risk of preterm births.
- Women and babies in all countries become more vulnerable due to the “four Cs” which are conflict, climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis.
Government Initiatives and Programmes to Combat Preterm Births
- The government has launched several programmes, including
- India Newborn Action Plan
- Rashtriya Bal Suraksha Karyakram
- Several Speciality Newborn Care Units (SNCUs), Special newborn care units and Improved labour rooms have also been set up across the country
Recommendations and Solutions
- Access to quality health services before and during pregnancy is crucial for all women to detect and manage potential risks and prevent preterm birth.
- It is important to promote the provision of quality care in special newborn care units and educate mothers on kangaroo care practices for infants with low birth weight.
- Addressing the risks associated with climate change is imperative in reducing the incidence of preterm births, and therefore, policy changes are necessary to mitigate these risks.
Preterm Births in India [UPSC Notes]:- Download PDF Here
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