Newborn healthcare in India: The road ahead

Abstract

Neonatal mortality in the country continues to be unacceptably high and unrelenting with wide variations across states. Six high population states account for 60% burden of neonatal deaths. Most of the evidence-based interventions are reflected in the programs, but the coverage levels are low due to poor implementation resulting from missed opportunities and weak health systems. Action is required at the home and community level, as well as at the outreach and facility levels in rural and urban settings. ASHAs must be engaged in home care of neonates. Private sector needs to be involved for providing care to neonates of poor families. Demand side financing and incentives could be game-changers in enhancing care seeking and service uptake. Effective programming would require still higher budgets, decentralized planning, managerial support, proper monitoring and a massive human resources capacity development. Community mobilization is essential for which panchayati raj institutions can play an important role. Advoa.cy efforts should not be diluted because there still is a long way to attain an acceptable level of newborn survival.