LUCKNOW: Over 61,000 newborns die within 24 hours of their birth in UP every year. Data processed by Unicef for the state health department also shows that of around 55 lakh babies born in UP each year, 1.65 lakh die. These facts come to the fore ahead of the Newborn Awareness Week beginning Thursday."Over 37% of all newborn deaths take place on the day of birth. This contributes immensely to the infant mortality rates of UP and India," said Dr Anil Verma, general manager, child health, National Health Mission, UP."The burden is so high that health system alone cannot save these lives. Society will have to come forward and share the load," he added. Newborn deaths are a crucial health and development indicator. The scenario in UP makes a major impact on India's performance on regional and global scales."Of all the childbirths in India, 20% are in UP, while 24% of all newborns dying in the first month across the nation are also in UP. Though compared to past decades, the situation in UP has improved, yet it is still far more than the national average," said Dr Kanupriya Singhal, health specialist with Unicef, UP.Listing medical reasons for the trend, the assessment noted that pre-term births accounted for about 44% deaths, followed by neonatal infections (20%) picked up from labour rooms or lack of basic hygiene by lower rung health staff and parents.Experts noted that underage marriages and anaemia among women triggered an inter-generational cycle of ill-health. "While on one hand, a girl's body is not prepared to carry a baby due to young age and anaemia, she has little say in decisions pertaining to her life," they said.Data from 4th National Family Health Survey (NFHS) showed that 21% girls in UP were married before the legal age while 52% women in the age group of 15-46 years in the state were anaemic. Child-care practices during pregnancy and thereafter also contributed to infant deaths. NFHS data showed that only one out of four pregnant women went for all four mandatory check-ups. About 33% babies were born at home, which lacked hygiene protocols. About 75% newborns were deprived of mother's milk in the first hour.

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