International Aspects of Maternal and Child Health

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Abstract
Problems in maternal and child health in countries with only one-fifth of the world population and infant mortality of less than 50 deaths per 1000 live births are contrasted with problems in countries having three-fifths of the population and infant death rates exceeding 100 per 1000. There is excessive childhood mortality, particularly in the age group from 1 to four years in the economically less developed areas. It is chiefly due to gastrointestinal disease, respiratory disease, infectious and parasitic disease, causes which are readily preventable and have almost completely been eliminated in the developed countries. Although not apparent in the statistical data, the influence of malnutrition on mortality is important. Reduction of these preventable causes requires both intensive expansion of the general health program and development of specific maternal and child health activities. Services are particularly lacking in rural areas in the less developed countries where the maternal and child health program can be developed only slowly. It is therefore proposed that under those conditions, rather than to attempt an all-embracing program, specific points be emphasized, such as acceptance of breast feeding as the surest life-saving device, supplementary feeding of animal and vegetable protein, ready availability of water to reduce the spread of diarrheal diseases, and prevention of deaths due to enteritis by early rehydration. The maternal and child health program goes far beyond methods for preventing death and illness, in which the highly developed countries are far advanced, but aims simultaneously at the stimulation of harmonious growth and development of the child to adulthood. In this respect, the less developed areas do not necessarily seem to be at a disadvantage.

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