Born too soon? Doomed in India

Over 3L Of 35L Pre-Term Babies Died In 2010, Figure Highest In the World

New Delhi: India recorded the highest number of deaths of preemies, or babies born before time, in 2010. 

    India ranked worst in a global report card "Born Too Soon," published jointly by the World Health Organization and Save the Children, with records suggesting 35 lakh children were born pre-term in the country in 2010. Of these, 3.03 lakh children died due to complications associated with being born before time. 

    Nigeria is ranked second on this list, accounting for 83,400 deaths of pre-term babies. In comparison, Pakistan 

recorded 72,000 infant deaths due to pre-term complications, China 57,200, Bangladesh 

36,900 Afghanistan 21,200, Nepal 10,400 and Sri Lanka 600. 

    About 13% of all births in India were pre-term. And nearly 35% of all global pre-term babies were born in India. The countries with the highest number of pre-term births are India (35.19 lakh), China (11.7 lakh), Nigeria (7.7 lakh), Pakistan (7.48 lakh), Indonesia (6.75 lakh), and the US (5.17 lakh).

    The report says prematurity is the leading cause of newborn deaths, and now the second leading cause of death after pneumonia children under five years. It pointed out that globally, 1.5 crore babies are born too soon every year. In absolute numbers, more than one in 10 babies were born pre-term. 

    Over 10 lakh children died due to complications of preterm birth. Many of those who survived faced a lifetime of disability, including learning disabilities and visual and hearing problems. Save the Children India CEO Thomas Chandy said many factors such as early marriage, inadequate nutritional intake by the pregnant and lack of adequate health interventions were among the reasons for such a high rate of pre-term pregnancy, exposing both mother and baby to risk.