Inequalities in the utilization of maternal and child health services is a global issue that has a negative effect on many different communities. WHO reported that approximately 295’000 women died during and following childbirth in 2017, the majority of these cases being due to preventable direct or indirect causes. It is often reported that the optimal use of healthcare facilities is not being taken advantage of by some women in these cases. In 2019, WHO estimated that 5.2 million children under the age of 5 died mostly from preventable causes, a large majority of these children being newborns at a staggering 2.4 million deaths. These deaths have been found to correlate with a lack of adequate healthcare interventions. These figures are a significant improvement since the 1990’s, due to an improvement in knowledge and policy changes that significantly impacted the quality of healthcare, however there are still disparities in some countries and communities.
This Research Topic will go into detail about the disparities in maternal and childcare utilization from multiple perspectives, and how this will influence healthcare policy going forward. To be able to make a change, we need to discover how to improve the quality and utilization of antenatal care visits, delivery services, post-natal care, and care for children under 5 in those communities that need it. This Research Topic may also discuss a change in the way that the healthcare services are presented to pregnant women and mothers, and discuss providing easier access for those in compromising situations. To increase the trust in the healthcare systems of pregnant women and mothers, adequate antenatal care for injury after pregnancy and for childcare should be universally available to ultimately increase utilization.
Considering these points, this Research Topic should gather manuscripts covering, but not limited to:
• Strategies that can be implemented to make maternal and child healthcare safer;
• The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal use of health facilities;
• Incentives to improve maternal and child healthcare utilization;
• Inequalities in the use of maternal child and health care;
• Community action to improve maternal and child healthcare utilization; and
• Improvements to medical treatments given to mothers and children.
Inequalities in the utilization of maternal and child health services is a global issue that has a negative effect on many different communities. WHO reported that approximately 295’000 women died during and following childbirth in 2017, the majority of these cases being due to preventable direct or indirect causes. It is often reported that the optimal use of healthcare facilities is not being taken advantage of by some women in these cases. In 2019, WHO estimated that 5.2 million children under the age of 5 died mostly from preventable causes, a large majority of these children being newborns at a staggering 2.4 million deaths. These deaths have been found to correlate with a lack of adequate healthcare interventions. These figures are a significant improvement since the 1990’s, due to an improvement in knowledge and policy changes that significantly impacted the quality of healthcare, however there are still disparities in some countries and communities.
This Research Topic will go into detail about the disparities in maternal and childcare utilization from multiple perspectives, and how this will influence healthcare policy going forward. To be able to make a change, we need to discover how to improve the quality and utilization of antenatal care visits, delivery services, post-natal care, and care for children under 5 in those communities that need it. This Research Topic may also discuss a change in the way that the healthcare services are presented to pregnant women and mothers, and discuss providing easier access for those in compromising situations. To increase the trust in the healthcare systems of pregnant women and mothers, adequate antenatal care for injury after pregnancy and for childcare should be universally available to ultimately increase utilization.
Considering these points, this Research Topic should gather manuscripts covering, but not limited to:
• Strategies that can be implemented to make maternal and child healthcare safer;
• The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal use of health facilities;
• Incentives to improve maternal and child healthcare utilization;
• Inequalities in the use of maternal child and health care;
• Community action to improve maternal and child healthcare utilization; and
• Improvements to medical treatments given to mothers and children.
