Simple measures could reduce infant deaths

Four million newborns die worldwide each year, but three quarters of them could be easily saved, researchers report on Thursday.

Most of the deaths occur in 10 countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa and are caused by infection, prematurity and breathing problems related to birth complications.

"If you look across 23 nations of western Europe there are 4 million births every year," said Richard Horton, editor of The Lancet medical journal. "So the annual global neonatal mortality is equivalent to all newly born babies in western Europe being entirely wiped out," he added.

"That equals 10,000 to 11,000 deaths per day, 450 deaths per hour and 7 neonatal deaths per minute, up to three quarters of which are entirely unnecessary and preventable," he told a news conference.

In a series of reports on newborn deaths published in the journal, scientists and health experts show where and why the deaths are occurring, how they can be prevented and how much it will cost.

They estimate an extra $4.1 billion per year, on top of the current spending of $2 billion, will be needed to provide simple health treatment for 90 percent of people at risk in 75 countries with the highest mortality rates.

PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY

Most newborns who die do so in the first week of life. Most are born at home. Two thirds of the deaths occur in India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Afghanistan and Tanzania.

"The plight of newborns is not just a medical issue, it is also a moral barometer of our times, a measure of our values and our feelings for others," said Horton.

To prevent infant deaths, healthcare systems need to be strengthened, which experts believe could mean a doubling or even quadrupling of the health budget in the poorest nations.

But Dr. Gary Darmstadt, of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore and an author of one of the studies, said 16 measures, such as vaccinations against tetanus for pregnant women, antibiotics for newborn infections, and exclusive breastfeeding could save lives.

"Early success in preventing neonatal deaths is possible...by improving home care practices, raising demand for skilled care and increasing care-seeking for illnesses through outreach services and a family-community care package," he said.

Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta, of Aga Khan University in Pakistan, said low-cost, low-tech interventions could be packaged together and delivered at birth and afterwards to prevent three million of the four million newborn deaths.

"This is affordable," he said. "The cost of this is estimated at $1 a person per year."