Interventions for Maternal and Child Health in Nepal Essay Example for Free

Interventions for Maternal and Child Health in Nepal EssayMacro- and micro-nutrient malnutrition is a major public health problem and a key factor in determining unwholesomeness and mortality. Its underlying determinants include poverty, education, sanitation, climate, food production, cultural norms, and accessibility and quality of health care. Pregnant women and young children are particularly at risk owing to the extra nutritional demands of rapid growth.Malnutrition is the direct cause of approximately 300,000 deaths per year (Muller Krawinkel, 2005), and a contributing factor in over a third 3.5 millionof all child deaths annually (Horton, 2008). These deaths are largely preventable. For infants, there is a golden interval for intervention from pregnancy to 2 years, during which melioratements in nutritional shape can extradite long-lasting benefits (Horton, 2008). Strong associations exist between maternal and child undernutrition and minifyd adult economic product ivity and different negative outcomes (Victoria et al., 2008).While Nepal has recently demonstrated progress toward up(p) general maternal and child health (MCH), there are still opportunities to further improve nutritional status of mothers and children. This account examines and makes recommendations about interventions that have the effectiveness to improve maternal and child nutritional status in Nepal.The interventions discussed in this paper voice communication the underlying causes of nutrition-related maternal and child mortality and morbidity, as outlined by the UNICEF Conceptual framework for maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity (UNICEF, 2008), and are organize based on the level of intervention, including antenatal care, delivery care, and post-partum and early childhood care.Antenatal care Within the antenatal period of development, maternal supplementation has been i of the most studied interventions. Evidence is strongest in support of maternal supplem entation of multiple micronutrients, calcium, and iron-folic acid. Given the staggering range of micronutrient deficiencies among pregnant Nepali women and the low price of supplementation, maternal supplementation of multiple micronutrients, calcium and iron-folic acid is highly recommended.These micronutrients have a range of benefits, including reduction of maternal anemia, maternal mortality, pre-eclampsia, hypertension, puerperal infection, and low birthweight (LBW). This paper also examines the evidence around maternal smoking cessation interventions because of the extraordinary potential for impact of such programs in a population where smoking rates among women are high and knowledge about negative outcomes associated with smoking is low and because maternal smoking cessation appears to have not been a focus of regime and other programs in Nepal. However, there is a lack Executive Summary iof solid evidence to suggest that a particular intervention to smother maternal sm oking could be both effective and efficient in exploitation countries.Delivery care This paper also examines interventions during delivery that can have an impact on nutritional status. Traditional birth attendants (TBAs) play a crucial role in decreasing nenonatal and maternal mortality during delivery. They also dish advice regarding antenatal, perinatal, and postnatal care, including nutrition and diet, breastfeeding, and immunizations. One important aspect of training for TBAs, as well as other health professionals, is the forwarding of delayed umbilical stack clamping. Due to the high rates of anemia and iron deficiency in children, delayed cord clamping is a critical intervention because it is a cost-effective representation to improve hematologic status, increase blood volume, and decrease anemia in infancy.Post-partum and early childhood care Finally, nutritional interventions in the post-partum and early childhood period can reduce childhood morbidity and mortality and ensure that children are developing in a healthy way. This section of the paper focuses on the promotion of breastfeeding, infant and child vitamin A supplementation and growth monitoring and promotion (GMP). There exists decades of research showing that breastfeeding is a highly effective strategy to reduce all-cause mortality, diarrheal morbidity and mortality, and the risk of gastrointestinal infections and respiratory infections. There is a wealth of empirical data supporting the promotion of breastfeeding in developed and developing countries alike.Vitamin A supplementation for infants and young children has already been successful in Nepal, and it should remain a priority there. Vitamin A supplementation is associated with reductions in night-blindness, Bitots spots, xerophthalmia, and severe morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases, and when given before certain immunizations, it can enhance the immune response to the immunizations, making them more effective. Also, the use of GMP, measuring and charting the growth of children and utilize this information to counsel parents to motivate behaviors that promote growth, provides a cost-effective opportunity to identify growth issues before severe malnutrition manifests.For summary information on recommended interventions, insinuate to the one-page briefs after this Executive Summary.The interventions examined in this paper collectively have an enormous potential for impact in Nepal. At the same time, it is important to analyze some of the challenges and feasibility concerns that these interventions may face. These mayExecutive Summaryinclude access to and utilization of antenatal care and other health services the status of the health system infrastructure financial resource availability, and cultural considerations. Also, while these recommended interventions can be successful in addressing the underlying causes of malnutrition-related morbidity and mortality, long-term solutions for improving maternal and child nutritional status must address the basic causes, such as political, economic and social conditions.While challenges and other considerations exist, the interventions recommended have the potential to make a real and lasting impact in Nepal by reducing the burden of nutrition-related morbidity and mortality. These interventions are cost-effective tools that should be central to either plan to create a bright and healthy future generation in Nepal.