Regardless of general progress in bringing down low birthweight numbers throughout India over the previous 30 years, charges stay stubbornly excessive in sure states, with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and West Bengal accounting for nearly half of all such births, finds analysis printed in BMJ International Well being.
Low birthweight is vital, as a result of it usually indicators underlying maternal well being points and poor vitamin in addition to the kid’s future cognitive improvement and susceptibility to power circumstances in later life, word the researchers.
Whereas some states have made fast progress in bringing down the prevalence of low birthweight, others have discovered it tougher, they add.
To attempt to construct an correct image of progress throughout the nation over the previous 30 years, the researchers drew on knowledge for ladies and women aged 13 or 15 to 49 in 5 waves of the nationally consultant Nationwide Household Well being Survey spanning the interval 1992–3 to 2019–21. Low birthweight was outlined as lower than 2,500 g.
Of the overall 626,087 dwell births through the examine interval, 165,073 (26.5%) newborns weren’t weighed and the data was lacking for 20,814 (simply over 3%); and 440,200 (simply over 70%) had been weighed. The dimensions of 614,428 (98%) was subjectively assessed by the mom.
The variety of recorded births rose from 48,959 in 1993 to 232,920 in 2021. And the proportion of those infants who had been weighed elevated over time, leading to 7,992 being included within the evaluation in 1993 (16%) to 209,266 in 2021 (90%).
The state-level common prevalence of low birthweight fell throughout the 5 surveys from 25% in 1993 and 1999; to twenty% in 2006; 17% in 2016; and 16% in 2021. And the general prevalence of low birthweight throughout India fell by 8 proportion factors from 26% in 1993 to 18% in 2021.
The best prevalence of low birthweight in 1993 was noticed in Rajasthan (48%) and Chhattisgarh (42%) whereas the bottom was noticed in Mizoram (6%) and Nagaland (11%).
In 2021, the best prevalence was noticed in Punjab (22%) and the union territory of Delhi (22%) whereas the bottom prevalence was noticed in Mizoram (4%), Nagaland (5%), and Manipur (7%).
The 2019–21 survey suggests that there have been 4.2 million low birthweight infants in a single 12 months in India. Simply 4 states—Uttar Pradesh (858,000), Bihar (430,000), Maharashtra (399,000), and West Bengal (318,000)—accounted for nearly half (47%) of all these births.
The figures recommend a level of convergence, the place states with better prevalence in 1992–93 skilled quicker falls.
The 2021 survey additionally indicated that in a single 12 months 2.5 million youngsters had been born smaller than common dimension, as assessed by their moms.
The most important quantity had been born in the identical 4 states as these with a excessive prevalence of low birthweight: Uttar Pradesh (462,000); Bihar (318,000); Maharashtra (261,000); and West Bengal (208,000), accounting for 50% of such births.
For each low birthweight and smaller than average-sized infants, the 2021 survey confirmed that these youngsters had been significantly extra more likely to be born to ladies with little or no formal schooling and from the poorest households.
“Low delivery weight is more likely to be extra prevalent amongst non-weighed youngsters, since weighing correlates strongly with well being care infrastructure and being born in a well being facility. Additionally, low socioeconomic standing is linked to each lack of entry to well being care and low delivery weight,” clarify the researchers.
“The insights from knowledge spanning practically three many years make clear each promising progress and enduring challenges. Our outcomes level to a common decline within the prevalence of low delivery weight and convergence between states over time,” they recommend.
“Nevertheless, the degrees and particular numbers must be interpreted with warning on account of knowledge high quality points, significantly low ranges of recorded birthweight within the older surveys,” they warning.
They conclude, “Regardless of the general progress, the persistence of excessive prevalence of low delivery weight in sure states highlights the necessity for ongoing efforts to handle maternal and neonatal well being disparities. Regardless of enhancements, knowledge assortment at well being care services should even be additional enhanced, to supply high quality knowledge for decision-making throughout India.”
Extra info:
Traits in low delivery weight throughout 36 states and union territories in India, 1993-2021, BMJ International Well being (2025). DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-016732
Quotation:
Regardless of general progress, low birthweight charges nonetheless excessive in sure Indian states (2025, June 16)
retrieved 16 June 2025
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