Saving newborn lives

Bangladesh has emerged as a development icon after reducing deaths of children below the age of five, meeting the global target four years ahead of time.

But the number of newborns dying in Bangladesh is still very high at 62,000 every year.

This is one of the highest in the world. All these occur in the first month of life and half within the first day of life.

The main causes of newborn deaths in Bangladesh are prematurity, sepsis and conditions arising from complications around delivery, like asphyxia.

Stillbirth rates are also alarmingly high, with nearly 230 cases every day. But many cases are never recorded and many conditions behind such loss of life remain unknown.

In addition, about 5,200 women in Bangladesh die every year due to complications during pregnancy, delivery and the period following birth.

Most of these deaths happen due to mothers delivering babies at home by unskilled birth attendants. Mothers also die because there is a lack of proper and round-the-clock emergency obstetric care at hospitals, clinics and health centres.

Poor nutritional status of pregnant mothers and early pregnancies lead to low birth weight of infants. Low-birth-weight babies, who comprise 13.2 per cent of all births, have less chances of survival and development. When they do survive, they are more prone to disease, growth retardation and impaired mental growth.

The risks may apply more to adolescent mothers, because 29 per cent of all Bangladeshi girls are malnourished and severely lack essential elements for proper body functioning. Twice as many newborn deaths occur among very young pregnant women.

Because child marriage is still common, Bangladesh has one of the highest adolescent birth rates in the world, that is 113 per 1,000 live births.

The children of mothers who are less educated are more vulnerable, have less access to health care and evidence shows that they are more prone to life-threatening diseases.

Mothers of children in urban slums have even less access to health care. Because these women are mostly occupied with poor-paid jobs that make access to basic services difficult.

Health challenges in urban slums are particularly acute because knowledge and use of essential newborn care practices there remain very low.

Despite the barriers, Bangladesh now has a new global target to reach. By 2030, the number of newborn deaths must be reduced to at least 12 per 1,000 live births. The current newborn mortality rate is 20 per 1,000 live births.

Saving newborns require more efficient and round-the-clock delivery of essential health services, more skilled professionals and significant community engagement for adapting good hygiene and health practices.         

A greater focus is also needed for reducing disparities to eliminate geographic, gender, social and economic divides.