Maternal and Child Health
Human reproduction, although a physiological process, has enormous physical and psychological ramifications for both mother and the child. To start with, it requires full understanding of the phenomenon by both parents and those who surround them, so that the product of conception is nurtured and maintained to transform into a normal human being and repeat the process at an appropriate time.
Since the advent of mankind society has greatly influenced this sacred process. Understanding of reproduction and the responsibilities that the society and parents have is often misconstrued with devastating physical and psychological effects on the family, especially the mother and the child. The effects are not only seen in the offspring but it may also last for generations.
There are many issues which affect the mother and child and a few are listed below:
To add to what has already been stated, increased medicalization of this miracle is another problem. Unnecessary medication during pregnancy and after birth, childbirth without pain and frightening increase in cesarean section rates, influence of industries in encouraging artificial feed to both mother and the child are other factors affecting the populations.
Considering all these difficulties and how to mend it seems to be a daunting task. Multi-agency approach is required to address these issues to improve the outcome of pregnancy. Empowerment of women through education and improved health service provision is at the forefront.
Until recently, increasing recognition of health as a matter of family, realizing that healthy women are the answer to most maternal and child health problems, including reduction in infant mortality.
Under health service provision, the continuum of care has become a rallying call to reduce maternal and child mortality. The continuum for maternal, newborn, and child health usually refers to continuity of individual care. Continuity of care is necessary throughout the life cycle (adolescence, pregnancy, childbirth, the postnatal period, and childhood) and also between places of care giving (including households and communities, outpatient and outreach services, and clinical-care settings). Read on continuum_of_care_lancet_13_oct_07.pdf
Ref: Kate J Kerber, Joseph E de Graft-Johnson, Zulfiqar A Bhutta, Pius Okong, Ann Starrs, Joy E Lawn. Continuum of care for maternal, newborn, and child health: from slogan to service delivery. Lancet 2007; 370: 1358–69.
Since the advent of mankind society has greatly influenced this sacred process. Understanding of reproduction and the responsibilities that the society and parents have is often misconstrued with devastating physical and psychological effects on the family, especially the mother and the child. The effects are not only seen in the offspring but it may also last for generations.
There are many issues which affect the mother and child and a few are listed below:
- Child marriage in many cultures and societies;
- Pressure on women after marriage to have a child as soon as possible;
- Preference for a male child and pressure on woman to deliver can be intense;
- In many instances women do not receive required support from their husbands;
- Religious restrictions for contraceptive use to control fertility;
- Taboos during pregnancy and child birth;
- Eating phobias for both mother and the child;
- Undue influence exerted on mothers from in-laws and neighbors to follow questionable traditional practices;
To add to what has already been stated, increased medicalization of this miracle is another problem. Unnecessary medication during pregnancy and after birth, childbirth without pain and frightening increase in cesarean section rates, influence of industries in encouraging artificial feed to both mother and the child are other factors affecting the populations.
Considering all these difficulties and how to mend it seems to be a daunting task. Multi-agency approach is required to address these issues to improve the outcome of pregnancy. Empowerment of women through education and improved health service provision is at the forefront.
Until recently, increasing recognition of health as a matter of family, realizing that healthy women are the answer to most maternal and child health problems, including reduction in infant mortality.
Under health service provision, the continuum of care has become a rallying call to reduce maternal and child mortality. The continuum for maternal, newborn, and child health usually refers to continuity of individual care. Continuity of care is necessary throughout the life cycle (adolescence, pregnancy, childbirth, the postnatal period, and childhood) and also between places of care giving (including households and communities, outpatient and outreach services, and clinical-care settings). Read on continuum_of_care_lancet_13_oct_07.pdf
Ref: Kate J Kerber, Joseph E de Graft-Johnson, Zulfiqar A Bhutta, Pius Okong, Ann Starrs, Joy E Lawn. Continuum of care for maternal, newborn, and child health: from slogan to service delivery. Lancet 2007; 370: 1358–69.