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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | India’s 11% of neonatal deaths happen in Bihar -Banjot Kaur Bhatia

India’s 11% of neonatal deaths happen in Bihar -Banjot Kaur Bhatia

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published Published on Nov 24, 2014   modified Modified on Nov 24, 2014
-The Times of India

PATNA: Though Bihar has witnessed a steady decline in neonatal mortality rate (NMR) in recent years, it accounts for second highest total number of neonatal deaths in India. With NMR at 28, the state accounts for 11 per cent neonatal deaths in the country. NMR is defined as death of infants (within one month of birth) per 1,000 live births.

Incidentally, every year around 30 lakh live births take place in Bihar and about 90,000 newborns die before completing one month.

The inter-district variation in NMR is also one of the highest in Bihar. Patna district has the lowest NMR (21), while the highest is in Madhepura (45).

In fact, neonatal deaths account for 60 per cent of total infant mortality rate (no of deaths per 1,000 births till one year). If NMR comes down, experts say, IMR will go down in the state. However, with poor health infra in Bihar, it does not seem easy to prevent neonates' death.

National guidelines say every district must have one Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU), but Bihar has only 15. Against the requirement of 1,700 Newborn Care Corner (NBCC), only 500 NBCC are available, while there are 19 Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSU) against the requirement of 157. Going by the national norm based on population, there is 50-80 per cent shortage of medical colleges, referral hospitals, primary health centres and additional primary health centres in the state.

The state is facing a huge shortage of manpower too. Lady health workers deployed at periphery, staff nurse, anaesthetics, gynaecologists, paediatricians and medical officers are short by more than 50%.

There are qualitative issues too, as has been indicated in a recent joint study of National Neonatology Forum (NNF) and Unicef, Bihar, done in Gaya and Purnia. Experts say premature births contribute the highest to neonatal deaths. Infection is the second leading cause, followed by asphyxia (shortness of breath) and diarrhoea.

However, the study reveals that even basic resuscitation equipment (which can prevent asphyxia deaths) like laryngoscopes and mucus extractors were either not working or not available.


NNF secretary Dr Vikram Dutta says cleanliness is key to preventing deaths due to infections, but most health facilities in these two districts were found lacking in this respect. Preterm births require a whole paraphernalia of equipment, but they were also found wanting there.

The findings say even essential life-saving drugs and consumables were not available at SNCU or NBCC. Gown, mask and other personal protective equipment were also short. The number of ambulances to carry sick newborns to higher centres were also inadequate. Less than 50% ASHAs and ANMs had received any training in newborn care in last four years.

Incidentally, 54% neonatal deaths were of infants born to mothers less than 20 years of age.

 


The Times of India, 22 November, 2014, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indias-11-neonatal-deaths-in-Bihar/articleshow/45244117.cms


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