Allan Oglesby

Preventive aspects of maternal and child health.

The field of maternal and child health is concerned with the biological demands of reproduction, growth and development. It is also concerned with the special vulnerability of mothers and children as a result of these demands. The field of maternal and child health has the responsibility of providing’ special services to meet these demands. Because injury during the period of growth and development may damage the individual permanently, health measures of a preventive nature during this period are of special significance. The objectives of maternal and child health services begin with the immediate health problems of individual mothers and children, and extend to health throughout life and to community health. The effect of careful and informed mothering and parenthood on the health of the entire family and the relationship of family health to community health are important factors in individual, community and national health and development. According to the World Health Organization, “the object of maternity care is to ensure that every expectant and nursing mother maintains good health, learns the art of child care, has a normal delivery, and bears healthy children. Maternity care in the narrower sense consists in the care of the pregnant woman, her safe delivery, her postnatal care and examination, the care of her newly born infant, and the maintenance of lactation. In the wider sense it begins much earlier in measures aimed to promote the health and well-being of the young people who are potential parents, and to help them to develop the right approach to family life and to the place of the family in the community. It should also include guidance in parent-craft and in problems associated with infertility and family planning.” Furthermore, the objective should be to insure “that every child, wherever possible, lives and grows up in a family unit, with love and security in healthy surroundings, received adequate nourishment, health supervision, and efficient medical attention, and is taught the elements of healthy living.”