MHC 2: Comparative Analysis of Maternal and Child Health Indicators

This report provides an overview of maternal and child health (MHC) indicators, focusing on child mortality, immunization coverage, and maternal deaths, with data primarily from 2018. It highlights the disparities in child mortality rates across different regions, with a particular emphasis on the African and European regions, as well as specific data for Saudi Arabia. The report also examines immunization coverage rates and the progress made in vaccinating children against diseases. Furthermore, it analyzes maternal mortality trends, noting the reduction in rates from 2000 to 2017, and compares maternal mortality risks between developed and low-income countries. The report also addresses health gaps between developed and developing nations, particularly concerning access to antenatal care and quality healthcare services. Finally, it discusses the steps being taken by various countries, including Saudi Arabia and India, to improve maternal and child health outcomes, such as establishing mother-friendly hospitals and implementing national health programs.

Running Head: MHC 0
maternal and child health
[Document subtitle]
FEBRUARY 29, 2020

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Table of Contents
Child mortality......................................................................................................................................2
Immunization coverage.....................................................................................................................2
Maternal deaths.................................................................................................................................2
Health gaps........................................................................................................................................3
Steps to be taken................................................................................................................................3
References.............................................................................................................................................4

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Child mortality
It has been reported that particularly in 2018, around 5. 3 million children under the
age of 5 died. The risk of kids dying under 5 years of age is still highest in the African region
and around eight times higher compared to the European region. In 2018, the mortality rate
reported above 100 deaths every 1000 live birth. However, these stats are decreased by 59
percent (Dowell et al., 2019). On the other hand, in Saudi Arabia, under-five mortality rates
were 7.1 per 1000 live births, which means 4,244 children died in 2018. Between 1999 to
2018 the mortality was declined from 23.5 to 7.1 (Salam & Al-Khraif, 2020).
Immunization coverage
Immunization to infants and children under age 5 has been increased in las few years.
In 2018, around 116 million children were vaccinated against diseases like diphtheria,
tetanus, and pertussis. However, millions of kids are still not receiving the immunization. It
has been reported that vaccine coverage is currently higher than 80 percent. According to a
nationwide survey conducted against life-threatening diseases identified that among all 1102
kids around 86 percent of children had complete immunization and 14 had partially
immunization. Particularly in 2016 around 89. 7 percent of kids were fully immunized
(Alrowaili et al., 2019).
Maternal deaths
According to a report published by UNICEF, the mortality rates from 2000 to 2017
reduced by 38 percent. This indicates the death reduced from 342 to 211 expiries per 100000
live births. The lifetime risk of maternal expiry in developed countries is one in 5400 than
low-income countries where 1 woman died every 45 live births (MacDonald, 2019). In Saudi
Arabia, particularly in 2017, the mortality rates were 17 death per 100000 live births.

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Although the mortality rates decreased gradually from 26 deaths to 17 death from 1998 to
2017 (Khachfe et al., 2019).
Health gaps
There is a huge gap between the indicators of motherly and child health in different
developed and developing nations. poorer groups in developing nations receive less care.
According to the World Health Organization, the use of antennal care and delivery in the
presence of professionals was 80 percent in developed countries. The use of these services
found to be very low in developing countries. Education is the main factor if these
inequalities as in developing nations the antenatal education were very low compared to
developed nations. the quality health care services were also low in developing nations
compared to high-income nations (Requejo et al., 2020).
Steps to be taken
Different countries with high mortality rates are now focusing on improving the rates.
Different countries establishing baby and mother-friendly hospitals, and developing policies
to ensure safe and easy access to the services for mother and child. Countries like Saudi
Arabia raising funds to improve health care delivery (Lu, 2019). Countries like India
providing free medication and health care services for maternal health. In Saudi Arabia, the
national transformation programs 2020 initiated to strengthen health care systems and control
communicable and noncommunicable diseases. The country is also initiating the corporate
approach to address health issues (WHO, 2017).

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References
Alrowaili, G. Z., Dar, U. F., & Bandy, A. H. (2019). May we improve vaccine timeliness
among children? A cross sectional survey in northern Saudi Arabia. Journal of family
& community medicine, 26(2), 113.
Dowell, S. F., Zaidi, A., & Heaton, P. (2019). Why child health and mortality prevention
surveillance?. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 69(Supplement_4), S260-S261.
Khachfe, H. H., Sammouri, J., Salhab, H. A., Fares, M. Y., & El‐Najjar, R. (2019). Maternal
mortality and health in the Arab World: A 25‐year epidemiological study. Journal of
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, 45(12), 2369-2376.
Lu, M. C. (2019). The future of maternal and child health. Maternal and child health
journal, 23(1), 1-7.
MacDonald, M. (2019). The Image World of Maternal Mortality: Visual Economies of Hope
and Aspiration in the Global Campaigns to Reduce Maternal Mortality. Humanity: An
International Journal of Human Rights, Humanitarianism, and Development, 10(2),
263-285.
Requejo, J., Diaz, T., Park, L., Chou, D., Choudhury, A., Guthold, R., ... & Say, L. (2020).
Assessing coverage of interventions for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and
adolescent health and nutrition. bmj, 368.
Salam, A. A., & Al-Khraif, R. M. (2020). Child Mortality Transition in the Arabian Gulf:
Wealth, Health System Reforms, and Development Goals. Frontiers in Public
Health, 7, 402.

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World Health Organisation (2017). Country cooperation strategy: At a glance. Retrieved
from:
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/136842/ccsbrief_sau_en.pdf;jsessioni
d=FAE5E53E8EA3F20B7F42FD59CD87F89D?sequence=1