According to WHO, India records over 30 lakh preterm births annually, accounting for more than 20% of the global burden—the highest in the world.
India’s apex health research agency, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is set to begin a nationwide initiative to evaluate the effectiveness and reach of key interventions aimed at reducing deaths among preterm babies.
Preterm birth—defined as delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy—is the leading cause of neonatal mortality. Such babies, often weighing under 2.5 kg, face heightened risks of death within the first 28 days of life, as well as long-term physical, neurological, and socioeconomic challenges.
According to the WHO’s 2023 report, India records over 30 lakh preterm births annually, accounting for more than 20% of the global burden—the highest in the world.
Rolls Out of PrECISE Interventions to Tackle Neonatal Mortality
Over the next few months, ICMR will roll out studies across multiple centres to assess interventions recommended for reducing deaths in low-birth-weight newborns. These include:
- Antenatal corticosteroids for pregnant women at risk of preterm delivery.
- Early enteral feeding via tube with rapid advancement.
- Immediate kangaroo mother care in Mother Newborn Intensive Care Units (MNICU).
- Early use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for respiratory distress.
Collectively known as PrECISE, these interventions focus on improving survival rates through timely, evidence-based care. Kangaroo mother care, for instance, involves prolonged skin-to-skin contact with the mother (or caregiver) and exclusive breastfeeding.
Target Set to Achieve Single-Digit NMR
India’s neonatal mortality rate (NMR) has already declined from 26 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 20 in 2020. The government’s current target is to achieve a single-digit NMR.
“ICMR researchers will develop and optimise models to implement PrECISE interventions, ensuring wider coverage and higher quality of care for preterm and low-birth-weight babies,” a senior health ministry official said.
The programme will also evaluate the sustainability of these models, estimate incremental costs, and track their impact on survival outcomes at hospital discharge.