Maternal and child health
Maternal and child health is the field of health services addressing pregnancy, childbirth, newborn care, and children’s health and development.
Antenatal care: Health care provided during pregnancy to monitor health, identify risks, and support the pregnant person and fetus. Routine pregnancy visits help detect complications and connect families with preventive care.
Maternal mortality: Deaths during pregnancy or within a specified period after its end from causes related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management. Maternal deaths are a central measure of whether pregnancy and childbirth care is accessible and effective.
Risk stratification: The classification of people by their likelihood of experiencing a health outcome or complication. Identifying higher-risk pregnancies helps direct monitoring and specialist resources where needed.
Under-five mortality: The probability that a child born in a given period dies before reaching age five, commonly expressed per 1,000 live births. This outcome captures risks across infancy and early childhood, not only around birth.
Reproductive health: A state of well-being in matters relating to the reproductive system, including related health services and rights. Reproductive health covers a broader lifespan and concerns than pregnancy and childhood services alone.
Skilled birth attendance: Childbirth care provided by trained health professionals equipped to manage normal labor and recognize complications. Qualified support during labor can prevent or rapidly address maternal and newborn emergencies.
Infant mortality: Deaths of children younger than one year, commonly expressed as a rate per live births. Infant mortality summarizes risks shaped by prenatal care, birth services, and newborn health.
Emergency obstetric care: Time-sensitive clinical services for severe complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Rapid treatment of hemorrhage, infection, and obstructed labor can prevent maternal and newborn deaths.
Maternal morbidity: Illness or complications experienced during pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period. Survival alone misses lasting physical and psychological harms associated with pregnancy and birth.
Maternal health: The health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Maternal health is one component of the combined maternal-and-child service domain.