What is maternal and child health ?
Maternal health can be described as the physical, emotional and social wellbeing of a women before she is pregnant, during the pregnancy, at childbirth and during the postpartum period(“Fact sheets on sustainable development goals: health targets; Maternal health”, 2022). Child health is further described by WHO as the wellbeing of a child in an environment that promotes normal development from birth through the early crucial years of life.
Now the important question is why is maternal and child health important to society?
The wellbeing of a mother is vital as she is carrying the further generation. According to WHO investing in children are one of the most important things a society can do to build a better future. The health of women and children is vital to creating a healthy world. (“Maternal and Child Health”, 2015). Looking specifically in the South African context; this reiterates the vital role that mothers play in society. Women in the rural areas are seen as the backbone of our society and they play fundamental role in society as they are providing nutrition security for the household, they play a role in the rural economy, they are involved in providing fuel (they are involved in subsistence farming, collecting water and wood) for the families to carry out their daily activities. (“Rural Women Are The Backbone Of Society – iAfrica”, 2022). They contribute to agriculture and rural enterprises and thus improving rural livelihood. (“Facts & Figures: Rural Women and the Millennium Development Goals”, 2022)
This quote from Maya Angelou resonates importance of a rural women to society.
“I will look after you and I will look after anybody you say needs to be looked after, any way you say. I am here. I brought my whole self to you. I am your mother.”
– Maya Angelou
We can now see that by ensuring that maternal health is achieved the society will flourish as they are raising the next generation. Mothers play a critical role in the family, which is a powerful force for social cohesion and integration. The mother-child relationship is vital for the healthy development of children. (“‘Timeless Importance of Mothers’ One Constant in Changing World Facing Multiple Challenges, Says Secretary-General in Message on Day of Families | UN Press”, 2022)
Occupational therapists have the potential to assist in providing maternal and child health care services. We have been educated on developmental stages of a child and can provide facilitation of normal development if a delay is present. Occupational therapists view a person holistically; thus looking at a women’s physical and emotional well being during the different stages of pregnancy and during the postpartum period as issues such post-partum depression can be present.
During my first week in two different rural communities I have developed a deeper understanding of why maternal and child health care is important. In both communities there is a high prevalence of young mothers. They are prone to experience other health issues due to the increased pressure on them trying to raise a child while not being financially stable as well as being a young single parent. These young mothers are experiencing depression, anxiety affecting their ability to perform their role as a caregiver to their child and role as a student in school. Occupational therapists can intervene by providing psychosocial intervention to improve their mental wellbeing.
It has also been noted that in the community where unplanned pregnancies are dominating; due to the poor maternal health where young pregnant women do not take prenatal supplements, have a health diet, experience high levels of stress and use substances it leads to complications that arise later in the child’s life. An example is the increasing amount of child in the primary school that present with learning disabilities and foetal alcohol syndrome. Occupational therapists can provide health promotion talks to young pregnant women to reinforce the important of maternal health and the consequences of poor maternal health.
Both communities consist of people that are from a low socioeconomic background which has a negative impact on child health as some child are malnourished, are not stimulated therefore have developmental delays. The young mothers are also not educated on the different conditions for early detection of developmental delays therefore early intervention does not happen which is a negative prognostic factor. Occupational therapists can educate pregnant women on the red flags which will assist with early detection and intervention.
From the above mentioned issues that are faced in the communities by these vulnerable groups it can be concluded that Occupational therapists have an a significant role to play in maternal and child health care. We need to reach the population in the community to be able to provide the services. By providing health promotion and education it can prevent the increase of the these problems.
Here are links to resources on the topic:
https://www.instagram.com/brfafrica/
https://www.who.int/teams/maternal-newborn-child-adolescent-health-and-ageing/child-health
References:
- Rural Women Are The Backbone Of Society – iAfrica. (2022). Retrieved 15 September 2022, from https://iafrica.com/rural-women-are-the-backbone-of-society/
- Facts & Figures: Rural Women and the Millennium Development Goals. (2022). Retrieved 15 September 2022, from https://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/ruralwomen/facts-figures.html#:~:text=Rural%20women%20play%20a%20key,fuel%20local%20and%20global%20economies.
- ‘Timeless Importance of Mothers’ One Constant in Changing World Facing Multiple Challenges, Says Secretary-General in Message on Day of Families | UN Press. (2022). Retrieved 15 September 2022, from https://press.un.org/en/2009/sgsm12227.doc.htm
- Maternal and Child Health. (2015). Retrieved 16 September 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/mch/index.htm
- Fact sheets on sustainable development goals: health targets; Maternal health. (2022). Retrieved 16 September 2022, from https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/354921/3.1-SDG-Fact-sheet-Maternal-Health.pdf
Inside the mind of a 4th year OT student 