Global Maternal and Infant Health Flashcards
pregnancy in developing countries
The risk of mortality (maternal, neonatal and under-five) are much greater than for developed countries
* often give birth successfully at home without skilled care
* majority have babies that survive beyond five years of life
Mortality of live births
- Developed countries: 14 per 100,000 live births
- developing countries: 290 per 100,000 live births; 580 in least developed up to 1,400 in some
Maternal mortality
~350,000 women each year from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth
* Infants of mothers who died giving birth are much more likely to die
* true number may be higher
Causes of maternal mortality
- complications during delivery a direct cause
- Anemia a major indirect cause
- malaria and HIV
What are some complications during delivery that can result in maternal death
- hemorrhage
- infections
- prolonged/obstructed labor
Prevalance of anemia leading to maternal mortality
50-60% of women enter pregnancy with iron deficient anemia
* increases risk of mortality from blood loss
What is considered neonatal mortality?
mortality in the first 28 days of life
prevalance of neonatal mortality
- Developed Countries: 3 per 1,000 live births
- Developing Countries: 25 per 1,000 live births; 34 in least developed countries
What is neonatal mortality linked to?
maternal health
direct causes of neonatal mortality
- infections (pneumonia, tetanus, diarrhea)
- asphyxia
- pre-maturity
indirect causes of neonatal mortality
low birth weight due to prematurity or decreased intra-uterine growth
* maternal undernutrition primary reason for low birthweight
Under 5 mortality
8.7.6M children under 5 years of age died in 2010 (98.7% in developing countries)
* 35-50% under-five deaths accounted for by nutrition related factors
* includes neonatal mortality (~40%)
What are nutrition related factors leading to mortality (under 5?)
- Reduction in intrauterine growth
- Wasting and stunting
- Vitamin A, zinc, iron, iodine deficiencies
- Suboptimal breastfeeding
What causes reduction in intrauterine growth?
Maternal undernutrition
* before and/or during pregnancy
* reduced nutrient stores and availability
* results in low birthweight and inadequate infant nutrient stores
What is wasting?
Acute undernutrition
Assessment of wasting on growth chart
- Weight for length using WHO Growth Standards
- Mid-upper arm circumference below 115mm
- Bilateral edema: venous return insufficiency
Values for wasting with the weight for length using WHO growth standards
Based on z score, a standard deviation score: how different from average
* moderate if z score less than -2
* severe if z score less than -3
What does the WHO growth standards evaluate?
Charts birth to 5 years of age using percentiles and z scores
* Weight for age
* length/height for age
* weight for length (birth-2yrs)
* body mass index for age
* Head and arm circumference for age
* subscapular and tricep skinfolds for age
Severe acute undernutrition disseases
- Marasmus
- Kwashiorkor
Marasmus
- “skin and bones”
- inadequate energy and protein intake
- low weight for age and weight for length (height)
kwashiorkor
- edema - interpretation of weight
- inadequate protein
- “first second” - early weaning from breastmilk to poor protein quality foods