Maternal and child health (MCH) is a term used to describe the physical and mental health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, as well as the health of their infants and children up to 5 years of age. MCH is also referred to as reproductive health or women’s health. It is a global public health concern because healthy mothers and children are essential for sustainable economic development.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health care as: “a set of processes that are designed to prevent disease, prolong life and promote wellbeing. It includes prevention, promotion, preparation for treatment and rehabilitation, recovery from illness and supervision of medical practice.
What is included in maternal care?
Maternal and child health is a critical issue that affects people all over the world. The definition of maternal and child health is the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the post-partum period, as well as the health of children from birth to age five. It encompasses a wide range of issues, from prenatal care to immunizations.
Maternal and child health has been a focus of public health campaigns for many years. In the first half of the twentieth century, public health advocates helped to improve maternal and child health. From 1946 to 1952, the United States Public Health Service conducted a series of studies on infant mortality, which resulted in several recommendations for improving maternal and child health in the United States.
Why is maternal health a public health issue?
Maternal and child health (MCH) is a public health issue because motherhood and childhood are stages of life that require special attention. Maternal health is the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the post-partum period. Child health is the health of children from birth to age five.
The World Health Organization defines maternal mortality as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes. Every day, 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. 99% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. In addition, every year an estimated 303 000 newborn babies die within 28 days after birth, most from preventable causes.
What are the three components of maternal healthcare?
Maternal and child health are important aspects of public health that require concerted efforts by individuals, families, communities, and countries. The World Health Organization defines maternal health as “the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.” Pregnancy is a time when a woman’s body undergoes many changes to support the growth of her baby. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth can endanger both the mother’s life and that of her baby. The postpartum period is the time following delivery when a woman’s body resumes its normal function.
The three components of maternal healthcare are antenatal care, delivery care, and postnatal care. Antenatal care is care a woman receives during her pregnancy.
What is high risk during pregnancy?
Maternal health is a state of being well and healthy during pregnancy and childbirth. Child health is the state of being well and healthy from birth until 8 years old. Together, maternal and child health (MCH) is the physical, mental, and social well-being of mothers and children.
Maternal health includes good nutrition before, during, and after pregnancy; prevention and treatment of infections; avoidance of harmful substances; access to quality care before, during, and after delivery; and safe delivery practices.
Child health includes breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life; immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases; vitamin A supplementation; prevention of injuries; oral rehydration therapy for treating diarrhea; promotion of good hygiene practices, including hand washing with soap; appropriate management of acute childhood illnesses such as pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhea.
