Infant, Mother and Child Care Analysis
Protecting the health of mothers, infants and children are indispensable to perpetuating the general health of the total population in a nation. Health behaviors, systems and conditions fall under the umbrella of maternal child health (Gregory, 2018). These areas of concern help communities and families to identify future health challenges. To optimize infant and maternal outcomes, different policies and programs have been implemented. However, in the United States, contemptuous threats to infant, child and maternal health still exist despite these policies.
The prevalence of preterm, low weight births and infant deaths have been a major challenge in the United States. In 2011, 8.10% of infants were born at low births while 11.73% were born preterm. The preterm births rose by 20% in 1990-2006 while infant deaths escalated more in the United States than in other 46 countries. It became one of the most pressing challenges in the country especially due to the fretting figures. Furthermore, the low birth weight and preterm births can lead to disastrous and long term disabilities to the child (Koumans, 2012). Development delays, visual and hearing impairments, severe emotional and behavioral problems may be a risk to the child’s life.
A study conducted in the United States approximated that more than 80% of women conceive one or more children. Among the 80%, 31% of these women experience pregnancy complications. Hence, it increased the likelihood of adverse birth outcomes such as caesarean delivery. Stressful events and excessive weight gain are the major causes of these complications (Seng, 2014). Despite these pregnancy complications, the risk of death is low.
Recent efforts have been employed. To address continuous disparities in the infant, child and maternal health Provision of preconception, pretarnal and interconception care at the efficient time, among others, has been instrumental.
REFERENCES
Gregory, K. D. (2018). Preconception and prenatal care. Gabbe’s Obstetrics Essentials: Normal & Problem Pregnancies E-Book,, 22.
Koumans, E. H. ( 2012). Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of infections during pregnancy: implementation of recommended interventions, United States, 2003-2004. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, ,206(2), 158-e1.
Seng, J. S. (2014). Complex mental health sequelae of psychological trauma among women in prenatal care. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, , 6(1), 41.