Improving maternal and child health in Yunnan through targeted health programs

What is it about?

Mother and child health (MCH) is known to affect poverty and social growth of a region. This is why MCH is a major target in the sustainable development goals (SDGs). China has improved MCH to a considerable extent in recent years. But issues related to MCH persisted in rural and remote areas of the Yunnan Province, which is poorer than the rest of China. To solve these issues, Yunnan launched a series of MCH programs under the Targeted Poverty Alleviation Strategy in 2017. This study assesses the effects of implementing these MCH programs in Yunnan and compares the outcomes in poor and non-poor areas of the region.

Featured Image

Photo by Rui Xu on Unsplash

Photo by Rui Xu on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The study found that the number of healthcare workers in poor areas increased significantly: nurses by 22.5%, obstetricians by 21.8%, and midwives by 23.9%. The reach of health services and access to them in poor and non-poor areas varied quite a bit. But there were lesser gaps in the use of medical facilities for pregnant women and newborns. Out-of-pocket costs for serious illnesses dropped to just 10% of the total cost for poor families. Deaths of mothers and infants also reduced markedly in both poor and non-poor areas, with better survival rates across Yunnan. These results prove that properly executing health programs can solve the dual problem of poverty and illness in poor regions. The positive effects of the MCH programs in Yunnan show how boosting public health can help reduce poverty. KEY TAKEAWAY: This study highlights the success of the MCH programs in Yunnan, which can be a useful reference for other countries in their efforts to end poverty.