Care for child

(1). What are the common causes of newborn deaths and are they preventable?

The common causes of newborn deaths in our country are:

A. Infection – 52%

B. Asphyxia or lack of oxygen to fetus and newly born baby – 20%

C. Prematurity, babies born much before completing 9 months of pregnancy – 15%

D. Congenital malformations, birth defects and other miscellaneous causes – 13%

Most of these are preventable to a large extent.

(2). What are low birth weight babies and why are they special?

Babies born with a birth weight of less than 2500g are low birth weight babies (LBWB), those with birth weight less than 1500gms are very low birth weight babies (VLBW) and those with a weight of less than 1000gms are extremely low birth weight (ELBW). In India nearly one third of all newborn babies have low birth weight.

The common causes of low birth weight babies are:

A. Frequent pregnancies

B. Poor care during pregnancy

C. Poor nutritional status of mother

D. High blood pressure, anemia, infections

E. Tobacco use by mother

F. Low maternal literacy

G. Pregnancy at young age

A large number of the above mentioned predisposing factors for low birth weight babies can be prevented by health education. Maternal nutrition plays an important role in newborn health. Keeping this in mind the stress is on increasing awareness amongst the public, health personnel regarding the importance of nutritional status and health of the girl child, the future mother. “Every delivery to be attended by trained personnel”.

(3). What can be done to improve the outcome of newborn babies?

A. Education of expectant mothers about various problems during pregnancy which can affect the baby.

B. Basic minimum care during pregnancy, nutrition counseling and supplementation of iron and vitamins.

C. Preferably deliveries to be conducted at the institution or by trained medical personnel. All high-risk pregnancies where problems are anticipated should be conducted at hospitals or institutions.

D. Provide essential care to all newborn babies.

E. Early diagnosis of problems in newborns and early referral to hospitals for optimum care and treatment.

F. Transportation of newborn babies should be such that the baby doesn’t become cold during transfer.

(4). Essential newborn care

A. Good antenatal care, maternal nutrition, prevention and treatment of anaemia and tetanus toxoid immunization to the mother.

B. Delivery conducted by trained personnel.

C. Prevention and early treatment of infections.

D. Recognition of danger signs of disease and early referral to a medical facility.

E. Stable and safe transport.

F. Resuscitation of newborn.

G. Gives warmth to the newborn baby i.e. to prevent baby becoming cold.

H. Early and elite breast feeding for 6 months.