Abstract

Dr. Maitrayee Banerjee Mukherjee and Kuntal Gupta*

ABSTRACT

The incidence of low birth weight in India varies between 30-35%. Birth weight is a good reflector of status of maternal health and is the single most important factor for infant mortality and morbidity. The health status of mother and infants arise as a result of synergistic effects of malnutrition, poverty, lack of education, unhygienic living condition, chronic infections of mother and unplanned fertility. Low birthweight babies suffer from complications like infant respiratory distress syndrome, infections, sudden infant death syndrome and poor immunity. Low birth weight is also responsible for progression of some life-threatening health risks like insulin resistance, cardiovascular diseases in adult age. The Government of India is committed to fulfil maternal and child rights to nutrition and working in accordance for achieving Millennium Development Goals. Our country has successfully implemented several welfare strategies addressing proper nutritional care and counselling of pregnant mother, antenatal care, promotion of institutional delivery through conditional cash transfer. In addition, several State Governments implemented financial schemes for improvement of adolescent and maternal health.