Maternal health revolves around the health and wellness of women, particularly when they are pregnant, at the time they give birth, and during child-raising. Pregnancy can provide an opportunity to identify existing health risks in women and to prevent future health problems for women and their children. Nutrition of the mother plays a key role in maternal and child health. The nutritional status of a woman pre-conception and during pregnancy influences the growth and development of the baby.
Factors influencing maternal health
- Poverty and access to healthcare:
- Pre natal care
- Maternal HIV
- Maternal weight
- Lack of oral hygiene
- Stress
Why Maternal health is important?
- Maternal health is important to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia morbidity and mortality. Prenatal calcium supplementation with low intakes can reduce this.
- Antenatal iron-folic acid use may reduce anemia.
- Multiple micronutrient supplementations during pregnancy to reduce fetal growth restriction and low birth weight.
- Vitamin A supplements to children 6-59 months of age and zinc for treatment of diarrhea.
- Reduce preterm births.
- To decline Maternal Mortality Ratio maternal health is important. There are Maternal and child health services, and are important services for overall development of mother and child.
- Reduce the rate of fetal and infant deaths related with birth defects.
- Reduce cesarean births among low-risk women.
- Reduce low birth weight (LBW) and very low birth weight (VLBW)
- Reduce maternal illness and complications due to pregnancy.
