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India's Silent Crisis: Birth Defects Plague Newborns
3 Mar
Summary
- India records 421,000 to 522,000 births annually with congenital anomalies.
- Congenital defects cause about 16% of under-five deaths in India.
- Prevention strategies like folic acid supplementation are crucial.
Birth defects represent a substantial public health concern in India, impacting an estimated 421,000 to 522,000 newborns each year. These congenital anomalies contribute significantly to infant mortality, causing around 16% of deaths in children under five. The most critical period for fatal outcomes is the early neonatal stage.
Factors contributing to these defects are complex, involving genetic and environmental influences like maternal nutrition and infections. Preventive actions, including preconception folic acid supplementation and rubella vaccination, are recognized as effective in reducing incidence.
India currently lacks a comprehensive national birth defects surveillance program, hindering accurate tracking and targeted interventions. Strengthening this infrastructure, alongside improved antenatal screening and early care, is essential to reduce the national burden of congenital anomalies.
