MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Abstract

Maternal and child health is not a specialty but a channel through which medical and health services can be organized. It includes pediatrics obstetrics nutrition health education and mental health. It is made up of service teaching and research. Its activities must be adapted to the needs and resources of the community it serves. It must undertake to supervise the well-being of mothers and children through school age. Its objective is not only to improve physical fitness but to foster parental responsibility. A high child mortality means high morbidity which places a physical mental and economic burden on the community. A sense of fatalism tends to paralyze effort. Once parents see the effects of good health care however their outlook changes. They begin to develop confidence and pride in the future of their children. The effectiveness of maternal and child health work depends on 2 main factors: follow-up and adaptation to needs and resources. Hospitals should be the centers from which services radiate to clinics schools and homes. Services should include supervision diagnosis treatment follow-up and training of personnel. Research is important too. It takes 3 forms: 1) observation of cultural patterns 2) clinical assessment of pathological processes and 3) statistics. Health depends on personal and domestic hygiene and on common sense initiative and education. It depends much less on immunization supplementary feeding programs elaborate equipment and scientific qualifications.