Shame: India accounts for 29 percent of global newborn deaths

With more than 3 lakh babies dying within 24 hours of their birth every year, India accounts for 29 percent of all newborn deaths worldwide, according to Save the Children. The welfare organisation published the findings at the launch of its annual State of the World’s Mothers report.

Most Indian newborns don’t live beyond the first day because of complications associated with preterm birth, hygiene and maternal health, The Times of India reported.

Two thirds of all early newborn deaths occur in just 10 countries — Nigeria, DR Congo, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and China.

Four of these countries are in South Asia. The State of the World report on 186 countries shows South Asia recording 40 percent of the World’s first-day deaths.

Bangladesh and Pakistan see 28,000 and 60,000 first-day deaths with chronic malnourishment of mothers one of the major factors for the fatalities in the region.

“Progress has been made, but more than 1,000 babies die every day on their first day of life from preventable causes throughout India, Pakistan and Bangladesh,” said Mike Novell, the regional director of the charity, as per a report by the Hindustan Times .

China accounts for 5 percent of the global newborn deaths number. Developed countries account for 1 percent of the global first-day deaths and US tops that list.

The report notes stunting among mothers in South Asia as one of the major factors contributing to newborn baby deaths. In Bangladesh, India and Nepal, close to 13 percent of women are stunted and at a higher risk of having complicated pregnancies and consequently babies suffering from disorders.

Inequality in the country is also a major factor leading to infant mortality.   The report says that nearly 360,000 more babies would survive each year, if all newborns in India had access to all the basic amenities that babies born in affluent families had.

The report blames the lack of political will and funding for the crisis in India.

Many Indian women give birth without the help of skilled health care professionals leading to infections and complications. Doctors and hospitals are rare in distant areas and villagers risk the health of their children with poorly trained substitutes, says the report.