Prenatal tests crucial to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths: Experts

Patna: Health experts have advised that routine prenatal tests should not be missed to prevent maternal and neonatal mortality, stressing that high-risk pregnancies require regular and proper medical check-ups.

Various issues related to maternal and neonatal health were discussed on the first day of the 41st national annual conference of the Indian Society of Perinatology and Reproductive Biology, organised in association with its Patna chapter. Gynaecologist Dr Manju Geeta Mishra attended the programme as the chief guest.

Workshops were conducted on a range of topics including safe labour management, foetal medicine, high-risk pregnancy care, perinatal asphyxia management, contraception and reproductive medicine. Sessions were also held on pre-labour counselling, labour pain relief and modern prenatal diagnostic techniques.

Dr Pragya Mishra said the pre-conference workshops organised on Friday aimed to update doctors with the latest knowledge and practical skills related to maternal and newborn care.

Organising chairman Dr Usha Sharma said the theme of this year’s conference is “Bridging the Gap: Pre-Conception to Perinatal Care”, which highlights the importance of a continuous and integrated approach to maternal and newborn health.

Sharing Bihar’s data, she said the maternal mortality rate in the state stands at 118 deaths per 1 lakh live births, while the neonatal mortality rate is 27 per 1,000 live births. In comparison, she said, Kerala has a maternal mortality rate of 30 per 1 lakh live births, while the neonatal mortality rate is 7 to 8 per 1,000 births.

“The aim of this conference is to bring the health experts from different fields under one umbrella and chalk out ways to bring down maternal and neonatal mortality,” said Dr Sharma.

When asked about the major causes behind maternal mortality in Bihar, she said postpartum haemorrhage and antepartum haemorrhage were the leading factors, followed by maternal sepsis, preeclampsia and eclampsia.

She added that neonatal mortality was mainly caused by premature births, infections, weak cervix and induced prematurity.