Page 192 - Health, Population and Environment Education 10

postnatal care, which is the six weeks following delivery. During this time bleeding,
sepsis and hypertensive disorders can occur and newborns are extremely vulnerable in
the immediate aftermath of birth. Therefore, follow up visits by a health worker to assess
the health of both mother and child in the postnatal period is strongly recommended.
Due to lack of proper and adequate maternal and child health care, many mothers and
infants die. The motility rate of mother and infant can be reduced by proper maternal and
child health care services. The satus of maternal and child health is very poor in developing
countries as compared to that in developed countries. The mortality rate of women is very
high in developing countries due to complications related to pregnancy. Similarly, many
women lose their lives due to lack of safe delivery services and proper care after delivery.
The health status of developing countries is very poor due to high mortality rate of mother
and the child. In order to raise the standard of the health of the people living in a country,
we should improve the condition of maternal and child health care.

Importance of Maternal and Child Health Care

1. Maternal and child health care helps to keep the pregnant women safe.
2. Maternal and child health care helps to have safe pregnancy. It helps to protect the
health of mother and new born.
3. It helps to protect the mother and child from various complications during antenatal,
natal and post natal periods.
4. It helps to protect the women from high risk of pregnancy and unsafe abortion.
5. It helps to pay attention on balanced diet, immunization, maintenance and hygiene of
mother and child.
6. It provides knowledge to protect and promote the health status of mother and the
new born.
7. Mother and child health care protects the reproductive right and helps to make life
happy.
The pregnancy period of a woman is about 40 weeks or 280 days. This period is considered
as a sensitive and risky period for a woman. We should take extra care of a pregnant
woman. The family members should help the pregnant woman in various ways, like
nutritious diet, physical exercise, hygiene, etc. It helps to keep the maternal and child
health in good condition. If there is no proper co-ordination among family members,
there will be adverse effect on the health of the mother and child. Therefore, there is a
great role of family members for safe motherhood. The lives of mother and child can be
saved with the help of contribution of family members.
Maternal Child Health Care
The health care services that are included under maternal child health care are described
below:
1. Care of Pregnant Woman or Prenatal Care or Antenatal Care
It is a type of preventive health care, with the goal of providing regular check ups that
allows doctors or midwives to treat and prevent potential health problems during
192 GREEN Health, Population and Environment Education Book-10