NEET PG High-Yield: Maternal and Child Health (MCH)
MCH services aim to reduce morbidity and mortality rates among mothers and children through a preventive and promotive approach.
Key Maternal Health Problems
- Maternal Mortality: Often linked to Hemorrhage (PPH), Eclampsia, Sepsis, and Obstructed Labor.
- Nutritional Deficiencies: Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common medical disorder in pregnancy.
- Infections: TORCH infections, Hepatitis B, HIV, and urinary tract infections.
- Social Factors: Early marriage, low literacy, and limited access to healthcare (the “Three Delays” model).
Key Child Health Problems
| Age Group | Leading Causes of Mortality |
|---|---|
| Neonatal (0–28 days) | Preterm birth, Birth asphyxia, Neonatal sepsis. |
| Post-Neonatal/Under-5 | Pneumonia, Diarrheal diseases, Malaria, Malnutrition. |
High-Yield NEET PG Pearls:
- Three Delays Model: 1) Delay in deciding to seek care, 2) Delay in reaching a facility, 3) Delay in receiving adequate care at the facility.
- Indicators: Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is the best indicator of obstetric care quality; Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is the best indicator of overall health status.
- Safe Motherhood Initiative: Focuses on skilled birth attendance, emergency obstetric care, and antenatal care (ANC).