Over 284,000 pregnancies in 2022: Health experts call for better infant care

By Poojathmi Rivithma

Colombo, May 22 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka has recorded a total of 284,008 pregnancies in 2022, reflecting 257,953 live births, the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka (CCPSL) said.

A member of the Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, Dr. N.M Gamlath told the Daily Mirror that  28.1% of Infant deaths in 2022 were due to congenital anomalies.

These figures underscore the ongoing challenges in neonatal care and the importance of early detection and management of congenital conditions, he added.

Dr. Gamlath highlighted that 1,315 early neonatal deaths (within the first 7 days of life) and 490 late neonatal deaths (between 8 to 28 days of life) were reported.

The Family Health Bureau's latest data shows that 237,236 of pregnant mothers registered and 3.7% percentage of teenage pregnancy were recorded in 2024.

The bureau also highlighted that 94.4% of the mothers received at least one postpartum visit within the first 10 days following delivery, indicating a strong adherence to postnatal care protocols.