{"id":14906,"date":"2025-10-16T11:02:48","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T11:02:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smilefoundationindia.org\/blog\/?p=14906"},"modified":"2025-10-22T11:41:31","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T11:41:31","slug":"newborn-care-practices-saving-thousands-of-lives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smilefoundationindia.org\/blog\/newborn-care-practices-saving-thousands-of-lives\/","title":{"rendered":"Simple Newborn Care Practices Could Save Thousands of Lives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In a village in Gujarat\u2019s Bhavnagar, a 22-year-old mother-to-be walks each month to the local healthcare centre. Her heart brims with hope and tender dreams of the memories she will one day weave with her newborn child. A warm sun follows her steps, while the air carries the dry sweetness of bajra fields and the dust of the roads. At the healthcare centre, kind hands greet her. The doctors and nurses listen carefully, guiding her through every stage of pregnancy. They check her heartbeat and ensure her body receives the nourishment it needs with vitamins and supplements, tailored just for her, with promises of a healthier tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Months later, her cries of labour turn into the first wail of her newborn son \u2014 a healthy boy weighing 3.2 kilograms. His tiny fingers curl around hers, and in that moment, she feels the fulfillment of all her careful steps and sleepless nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, beyond her village, across countless corners of India, there are still millions of mothers who walk their journeys alone. They face their pregnancies without guidance, unaware that their own well-being is the foundation of their child\u2019s future. They carry the weight of fear and their children\u2019s futures, some hoping for, and others unaware of care they can receive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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According to the Registrar General of India, the infant mortality rate (IMR) in 2020 was 28 per 1,000 live births, meaning one in every 36 infants dies before completing their first year of life. This translates to roughly 1,800 deaths per day<\/a>, summing up to over 650,000 infant deaths annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the global infant mortality rate declined by 58% from 64 deaths in 1990 to 27 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023. On average, 9,700 children under age of 1 died every day in 2023, compared to 24,600 in 1990. Nearly 46% of all maternal deaths and 40% of neonatal deaths happen during labour or the first 24 hours after birth<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the major causes of newborn deaths<\/a> among babies less than 29 days old are: prematurity and low birth weight, birth asphyxia and birth trauma, neonatal pneumonia and non-communicable diseases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Essential Newborn Care still Slips through the Cracks<\/strong>?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Neonatal mortality continues to pose a critical public health<\/a> challenge in rural India, with birth asphyxia \u2014 defined as the failure to initiate and sustain breathing at birth \u2014 emerging as a leading cause of death within the first hours of life. While healthcare facilities may be physically accessible, the consistent implementation of essential newborn care practices remains suboptimal. Interventions such as immediate drying, skin-to-skin contact, delayed cord clamping, and early initiation of breastfeeding are frequently missed or improperly executed, resulting in preventable neonatal deaths. In fact, a study in Uttar Pradesh found that only 26.1% of newborns received the recommended ENC practices in public health facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skill Decay in Rural Health Systems: Addressing the Gaps in Post-Training Support<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Neonatal resuscitation training is often provided through workshops; however, without regular refresher courses and practical sessions, skill retention diminishes over time. This gap is particularly evident in Mobile Medical Units (MMUs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and remote delivery points, where continuous training opportunities are limited. Many rural health workers (ASHAs, ANMs, MMU staff) receive initial training, but rarely get refresher sessions, hands-on practice or supervised feedback. As a result, life-saving interventions \u2014 like bag-mask ventilation for birth asphyxia or proper newborn care<\/a> \u2014 may be performed incorrectly or not performed at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The First Minute Matters \u2014 But Tradition Often Gets in the Way<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Deeply rooted cultural norms and traditional practices often delay the timely adoption of essential newborn care. For example, immediate drying and skin-to-skin contact \u2014 critical for preventing hypothermia \u2014 may be postponed due to rituals surrounding bathing or waiting for elders to arrive. Similarly, colostrum, the first milk rich in antibodies, is sometimes discarded because of the belief that it is impure. In other cases, herbal substances are applied to the umbilical cord, increasing the risk of infection. When newborns fall ill, families may also turn first to community-based practitioner<\/a> outside the formal health system rather than trained health workers, leading to dangerous delays in appropriate treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prematurity and Low Birth Weight: Hidden Drivers of Neonatal Deaths<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Premature birth and low birth weight significantly increase the risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Studies suggest prematurity accounts for approximately 30-35% of neonatal deaths in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neonatal Infections: Preventable Yet Persistent Threats<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis continue to claim newborn lives, especially in areas where hygiene and infection control are inadequate. Infections are responsible for an estimated 25\u201330% of neonatal deaths. Conditions like severe jaundice and metabolic disorders, if left untreated, can lead to irreversible damage. Early detection and timely interventions are lifesaving, yet often delayed, and thus, infection is estimated to cause around 25-30% of neonatal deaths<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What We Miss About Newborn Health Starts with the Mother<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Maternal health is the foundation of neonatal survival. Conditions like anemia, hypertension, diabetes and infections increase the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight and birth asphyxia. Inadequate antenatal care further compounds these risks, especially where emergency obstetric services are scarce. Strengthening maternal health systems is not just a women\u2019s issue\u2014it\u2019s a newborn survival imperative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cultural and Religious Superstitions Leading to Infant Mortality in Rural India<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In rural India, deeply ingrained cultural and religious beliefs continue to contribute significantly to infant mortality. These practices often stem from traditional customs, superstitions, and societal norms that place newborns, especially girls, at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In certain rural regions of India, the birth of a girl is still viewed through the lens of economic burden and diminished social value \u2014 largely driven by dowry traditions and entrenched patriarchal norms. This perception has led to deeply troubling practices, including female infanticide and abandonment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Buried Voices: The Unspoken Horror of Female Infanticide<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A harrowing example occurred in October 2019 in Uttar Pradesh, where a newborn baby girl was discovered buried alive in a shallow grave. She had been wrapped in cloth, placed inside a clay pot and buried two feet beneath the earth \u2014 only to be discovered and rescued by a grieving family preparing a grave for their own stillborn child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ritualistic Cultural Extremes Threatening Child Safety<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Despite legal prohibitions, ritualistic killings persist in isolated communities. Certain communities continue to practice ritualistic killings under the belief that child sacrifice can bring prosperity or appease supernatural forces. These acts, rooted in occult traditions and extreme superstition, represent one of the most violent expressions of cultural misbelief. A tragic case emerged in April 2025 in Chhattisgarh, where a seven-year-old girl named Lali Goswami was abducted and murdered by her own relatives as part of an occult ritual. The perpetrators believed that the sacrifice would bring them wealth. The crime was carried out in a cremation ground and the body was buried nearby in an attempt to conceal the act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Cultural Lens That Shapes Infant Health Decisions<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In several communities across India, traditional newborn care practices \u2014 though dangerous to both mother and child \u2014 is widely prevalent. One common example is the application of substances like kohl, oil, or herbal powders to the umbilical cord to hasten its detachment. These practices can introduce infection, delay healing and increase the risk of sepsis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Smile Foundation\u2019s Operational Footprint in Rural Health Delivery<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mobile Healthcare Units: Bridging the Accessibility Gap<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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In remote areas where healthcare facilities are scarce, Smile Foundation’s Smile on Wheels initiative has been a game-changer. \u201cBefore Smile on Wheels, we had to travel miles to get basic medical care. Now, the clinic comes to us, and my children receive regular check-ups,\u201d says a resident of a remote village in Rajasthan. These mobile medical units provide essential services such as antenatal check-ups, immunisations and postnatal care directly to communities. This approach ensures that even the most isolated populations receive timely medical attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Impact:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n