ZCZC
BSS-30
ICCDRB-CHILE-DEATH
30 newborns die in 1000 live births: BDHS report
DHAKA, Feb 2, 2021 (BSS) – A Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) report today revealed that in per 1,000 live births, 30 newborns die in the country.
“Thirty newborns die in 1000 live births, of them 19 percent is responsible for premature birth and low birth weight (LBW) combined,” said a press release.
Preventing premature deaths requires promoting effective intervention to increase care seeking behavior.
Over the past few decades, the country has made significant strides in reducing newborn death but the report of last BDHS 2017-18 alarmingly shows that the rate has bounced back, according the sturdy report.
The report was unveiled at a programme at Icddr,b in city’s Mohakhali area organised by USAID and Research for Decision Makers (RDM) activity of icddr,b.
Speakers at the programme discussed about the prematurity and LBW burden in the country, innovations and interventions to reduce the burden and importance of bringing positive changes in the mindset of the care seekers.
Chairman of National Technical Working Committee Neonatal Health Professor Mohammad Shahidullah and Country Director of Ipas, an international, non-governmental organization that increases access to safe abortions and contraception, Dr Sayed Rubayet, attended the session as technical experts.
Dr Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman, associate scientist of icddr,b made the keynote presentation with Senior Director of Maternal and Child Health Division (MCHD) of icddr,b Dr Shams El Arifeen in the chair.
The speakers said in Bangladesh, 573,000 babies are born premature and 834,000 babies are born with birth weight less than 2500 gm among which 192,000 babies are born with birth weight less than 2,000 gm annually.
It is very unfortunate that about 17,100 newborns die every year from these reasons of which 72 percent die even before completing the first day of their lives.
It is imperative that the country strengthens its efforts in reducing newborn deaths to be on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-3.2, which is ending all preventable under-five deaths by 2030, they said.
BSS/PR/DH/GA/1857 hrs