Maternal and Neonatal Health: Importance, Determinants and Intervention Strategies

Running head:WOMEN'S AND CHILD WELFARE
WOMEN'S AND CHILD WELFARE
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WOMEN'S AND CHILD WELFARE
Introduction
There is an increasing number of evidence on the relationship between maternal and
neonatal health. The treatment women received in their pre-pregnancy, during the course of
pregnancy and during childbirth have a strong impact on the health of the newborn. According to
the study by Lassi et al., (2013), the strategies to improve maternal and newborn health are
therefore interlinked. Evidences have shown that an estimated 250000-280000 women dies every
year worldwide and over 15 million women suffers from chronic diseases because of the
complications due to pregnancy and child birth. Maternal health complications have been found
to be contributing to 1.5 million neonatal deaths in their first week of life and a 1.4 million
miscarriages (Lassi et al., 2013). It was found from the evidences on the role of community
based settings in improving maternal and neonatal health. Even though, the strategies vary
significantly, interventions planned based on community settings are believed to encourage a
healthier practice of care incorporating and employing local community members in the
provision of services including diagnosis and treatment and referral (Black et al., 2016).
Discussion
Why are maternal and neonatal Health important?
Wellbeing of mothers and early neonatal helps to determine and predict the next
generation health status and future family and community health problems (Healthypeople.gov,
2019). A neonatal's health is an important factor for his health and well-being during his lifespan.
Maternal health and the neonatal wellbeing influence variables such as education, public stability
and their sensitivity to negative actions. In Australia, more than 300,000 babies born each year is

WOMEN'S AND CHILD WELFARE
increasing rapidly. Therefore, for mothers it is important to keep themselves healthy by
maintaining a healthy lifestyle that will attending regular neonatal care services in order to get
improved heath outcome for both the mother and child. Pregnancy provides opportunity for
identifying health risks and preventing health problems for women and neonates. The health
risks includes diabetes, depression, genetic disorders, tobacco, alcohol or substance abuse,
unhealthy weight, sexually transmitted disease and heart diseases(Healthypeople.gov, 2019). The
risk and mortality associated with pregnancy can be reduced by making quality preconception
more accessible before pregnancy and during the course of pregnancy. In addition to that health
outcomes, early diagnosis and treatment of disability and delays and other related health
conditions can promote health and prevent death and disability among the neonates.
Neonate’s health are impacted by sociodemographic and behavioural factors like
education, family income and breast feeding are strongly linked to physical health of the
mother(Healthypeople.gov, 2019).
Understanding maternal and early neonatal health
Identifying health risks in women and prevent the occurrence of future problem that can
impact both the mother and the child. There are strong evidences on the relationship between the
mother and the child. The major causes and health risks of mother and the child are interlinked
and the fundamental time points of mother and neonatal health overlaps making childbirth the
most sensitive time period for both mother and the new born child.
Maternal chronic illnesses like diabetes, kidney diseases, hypertension and infections
such as STDs, malaria can impact neonatal health. Diseases caused due to nutrient deficiency
also impacts health of the neonatal significantly. The treatment or interventions that women

WOMEN'S AND CHILD WELFARE
receive during pregnancy and childbirth have an impact on the neonatal health. For instance,
antenatal care and skilled birth attendance (SBA) addresses the major causes of both maternal
morbidity with excessive bleeding, infections and hypertensive diseases as well as neonatal
morbidity through infections, intrapartum related deaths and other complications related to with
preterm birth.
Why and how maternal and early neonatal health are strongly interrelated?
Evidences have shown that maternal health and early neonatal health are strongly inter-
related. Studies have identified maternal health risks that impacts neonatal health. The risks vary
by maternal age, maternal health status and past medical and social history, delivery process,
birth weight and gestational age. It has been found that male fetuses are at an increasing risk
when compared to female fetuses(Yego et al., 2013).
The health issues that contribute to the factors affecting woman’s health relates to
reproductive health and ante and post-partum healthcare and sexually transmitted disease
(STDs). Evidences have shown the prevalence of different diseases and other health factors of
the mother that affects the child during the early neonatal period. Maternal health issues,
particularly severe health conditions and chronic diseases like diabetes, kidney diseases,
hypertension, heart diseases and other related comorbidities significantly impacts early neonatal
health. It has also been found that lifestyle choices and dietary or nutritional choice of the mother
affects neonatal heath. Poor nutritional choice prior to pregnancy, during pregnancy and post
pregnancy have significant effect on the foetal development and therefore affects the neonatal
health. Maternal nutrition is found to be one of the most common and prevalent cause of child’s
mortality and therefore during pregnancy and post pregnancy woman are recommended to
consume foods with high nutritive value that improves both maternal and neonatal health.