For most people, and in particular for children in developing countries, health outcomes are determined largely by decisions made within the household, by the family and especially by the mother and father. From infancy to adulthood, parents provide (or fail to provide) everything from nutrition and shelter to education and health care. The family is often the source of care and support for older people, who in turn may contribute to care of children. This paper develops a model of a “family health cycle” that places maternal and child health (MCH) interventions in the context both of the family and of the external conditions and inputs that influence a family’s decisions. The model starts with the birth of a child, who passes through the cycle first as a boy or girl, again as a parent, and once again as a grandparent. Each stage carries with it age- and gender-specific health risks and thus calls for different health interventions. Interventions at each stage can be viewed as inputs to help the individual survive (and benefit from lower morbidity) until the next stage, when new intervention inputs are required. The model helps to identify which kinds of interventions—biomedical, social, economic, environmental—are likely to be most effective at each stage of the cycle. It thus has the potential to improve understanding of the linkages among the many MCH interventions available and help put limited public health resources to better use.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Maternal and Child Health,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.