Question

Understanding Maternal and Child Health

• What are the most important causes of women’s death globally?
• How do causes of death differ for neonates, infants, and children younger than five years?
• What is the link between nutrition and women’s health?

Answer 1

1.Maternal death are rooted in womens powerlessness and their unequal access to employment,finances,education and basic health care are the most important causes of womens death globally.

2 The regions which have the highest neonatal,infant,and under 5 mortality rates are in Sub-saharan Africa,South Asia,and middle east and North Africa.Preterm birth complications,birth asphyxia and birth trauma and sepsis and other infections of the newborn.

The top 3 causes of infant deaths are lower respiratory infections,diarrheal disease and malaria.The leading cause of death in children under 5 are pneumonia and diarrhea.

3 Good maternal nutrition is essential for healthy pregnancy outcomes.Pregnant women need a sufficient amount of protein and energy as well as iron,iodine,folate,zinc and calcium.Fetuses that do not get sufficient nutrition from the mothe may suffer from still birth ,mental impairement or birth defects.Women need to be healthy even before getting pregnant or it can affect baby.Choosing healthy foods and drinks more often can help prevent or manage many health problems that affect women.