Johnson, July Mary https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4819-4082
Mathai, Sheila Samanta https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9651-2972
Lakshmi, Vani R. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2473-5311
Mathew, Mary https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4048-3567
Article History
Received: 28 January 2026
Accepted: 7 May 2026
First Online: 6 June 2026
Declarations
:
: All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations and in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki. This prospective study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Kasturba Medical College and Kasturba Hospital Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC 22/2024). The study protocol was registered in the Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI/2024/03/064305). Written informed consent was obtained from the parents or guardians of all neonates prior to participation in the study.
: Written informed consent for the publication of data and images was obtained from the parents or guardians of the neonates.
: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.