13% children born prematurely in India, 17% with low weight: Data
Around 13% children were born prematurely, and 17% with low birth weight, India's Demographic Health Survey 2019-2021 revealed. The study, published in the PLOS Global Public Health journal, found that air pollution and climate conditions, including rainfall and temperature, affect birth outcomes. More premature births were found in northern states owing to higher levels of air pollutant PM2.5.