[afro-nets] Infant Mortality Can Be Cut Substantially and Cheaply

[Claudio Schuftan <claudio@hcmc.netnam.vn>]

Infant Mortality Can Be Cut Substantially and Cheaply
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From: "Vern Weitzel" <vern.weitzel@undp.org>
http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050228/full/050228-17.html

Millions of babies' lives could be saved

It wouldn't cost much to dramatically reduce infant deaths in
poor countries.

By Erika Check

Many infant deaths can be easily prevented by simple health
measures. © WHO

Simple, inexpensive treatments could prevent the deaths of three
million babies every year, doctors and child advocates have an-
nounced.

According to studies published in the medical journal The Lan-
cet, each year four million babies under a month old die, and
three-quarters of them die in the first week of life. But the
research shows that most could be saved through 16 basic inter-
ventions, such as encouraging mothers to breast-feed and provid-
ing antibiotics for sick babies.

The United Nations' 191 member countries have set the ambitious
goal of reducing mother and child deaths by two-thirds by 2015.
But most research on preventing infant deaths focuses on expen-
sive medical technologies to save those who die in rich coun-
tries - only 1% of the total. About two-thirds of infant deaths
occur in ten countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, the De-
mocratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Indonesia and the United Republic of Tanzania.

Doctors hope that this latest research will draw more attention
to babies in poorer countries. "The tragedy of four million new-
born deaths must stop."

Cheap and simple

The research shows that the majority of these babies die from
infections, premature birth, or problems during the birth it-
self, says Paul, and that most of the preventive measures are
very cheap and simple. For instance, 500,000 babies die every
year from tetanus infections. But these deaths could be pre-
vented if their mothers received tetanus vaccinations, which
only cost 20 US cents per shot. And most premature babies simply
need extra warmth, feeding and prompt treatment of infections,
which requires proper training of midwives, mothers-to-be and
their families.

It is estimated that breast-feeding could prevent 1.3 million
deaths worldwide each year. Other cheap interventions include
clean delivery kits, which contain soap, a clean razor blade and
piece of string for cutting and tying the umbilical cord, and a
plastic sheet to place on the ground under the baby. These meas-
ures aim to prevent babies from catching infections in the cru-
cial minutes during and just after birth.

Some countries, such as Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia and Hondu-
ras, have begun to reduce infant deaths using inexpensive meth-
ods like these. Countries could fully address the problem by
spending just 90 cents more per person than they do now.