Effect of Tele-Counselling in Prevention of Morbidity among Low-Birthweight Babies: A Community-Based Quasi-Experimental Study in Western Uttar Pradesh.

BACKGROUND

Neonatal deaths remain a significant global health concern, with low birth weight (LBW) being a major contributing factor. Tele-counseling emerges as a scalable strategy to complement existing efforts to reduce neonatal morbidity.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

This was a community-based quasi-experimental study conducted with 80 LBW neonates, non-randomly assigned to intervention (tele-counseling) and control groups. The intervention group received structured tele-counseling for eight weeks, covering neonatal care aspects, including breastfeeding, hygiene, vaccination, thermal care, and danger sign recognition. The control group received routine postnatal care without tele-counseling.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were collected through a semistructured questionnaire and analyzed using Chi-square tests and Kaplan-Meier survival curves.

RESULTS

Exclusive breastfeeding rates significantly improved in the intervention group (22.5% to 90%). Hand hygiene practices also showed a significant improvement (37.5%-85%). Morbidity incidence was lower in the intervention group (22.5%) compared to the controls (45.0%), with statistical significance (P = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONS

Tele-counseling is an effective tool for improving neonatal care practices and reducing morbidity among LBW infants. Integrating tele-counseling into national health initiatives such as Home-Based Newborn Care (HBNC) and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) can enhance neonatal survival outcomes, particularly in underserved regions.