Foundations of Maternal and Child Health

Catalog description

This course is geared to Public Health students and is offered online. Fundamental aspects of maternal and child health are discussed, with emphasis on the social, economic, cultural, demographic and environmental issues. The history and actual structure of health programs are analyzed, as well as the public sector policies and private initiatives for women in the reproductive age, infants and children. The impact of various health programs for the different stages of the life cycle, and their functional results in terms of morbidity, mortality, psychological welfare, reproduction, and growth are examined. The opportunity is provided for a critical evaluation on how health disparities, cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic factors impact access to health services for the maternal and child population , with the purpose of proposing modificat ions to the health care system to provide for their specific necessities.