Pre-term births on the rise in India

 

Bengaluru: India accounts for 23.6 per cent of global preterm births. About 13 per cent of these are live preterm births. Approximately 21 per cent of births in India are preterm, and the number is rising.

 

These disturbing facts were revealed in ‘Delivered Too Soon’, the first report in India on the subject, which was released by the Indian Foundation for Premature Babies in the city on Friday.

 

“Prematurity is the leading cause of infant deaths in India. As prematurity is not considered a public health issue, its awareness levels are too low,” said Dr. Kishore Kumar of the Indian Foundation for Premature Babies.