Maternal nutrition is a major problem in Pakistan, and this problem has a devastating impact on children. It estimated that nearly half of children under the age of five are stunt, a sign of chronic malnutrition. What’s worse, a quarter of these children are already stunt by the time they reach six months old. This is an unusually young age for stunting to be a problem, as it typically seen in young children as they start to eat solids. This is a glaring indicator of a problem with maternal nutrition, as well as issues with women’s diets in general.
Maternal malnutrition
Maternal malnutrition is an important public health problem in Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan is committed to improving health outcomes for women and their babies. It has undertaken several initiatives aimed at improving the nutrition status of women and children. However, a number of shortcomings remain, despite the Government’s efforts to improve maternal nutrition. One of these is the lack of coherent policy responses. Another is the suboptimal coverage of maternal nutrition interventions and significant gaps in public service delivery.
The government is trying to address this problem by addressing the root causes. The government has launched a multi-sectoral programme called IRMNCH&N. This programme aims to provide preventive and curative services for mothers and children. Its goal is to eliminate the causes of maternal and child malnutrition and improve the nutritional status of mothers and children.
Maternal malnutrition and complications of pregnancy can increase the risk of mortality and reduce the life expectancy of infants. In Pakistan, about 270,000 new born babies die each year due to lack of nutrition. The risk of mortality increases significantly when the infant is small for gestational age (SGA). This can lead to cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
The problem of maternal malnutrition is a global issue that affects children and pregnant women. It also has a negative impact on women’s economic productivity. It also has negative consequences on fetal development and growth.
Food insecurity
Pakistan has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the world. As a result, the health and nutrition of child labourers is poor. While child labour is widespread in many low-income countries, there is scant data available on the health and nutritional status of child labourers in Pakistan. This study will examine the health and nutritional status of child labourers in the country.
The food and nutrition situation in Pakistan is complex, characterized by a lack of comprehensive and coordinated action by government and non-governmental agencies. Pakistan needs a national nutrition strategy and integrated multi-sectoral initiatives to address this problem. An example of an innovative approach is the Benazir Income Support Program, a cash transfer program that supports women and children.
The strategy for improving nutrition in Pakistan is base on Sustainable Development Goal 2: achieving food security and ensuring that all mothers and children are adequately fed. The strategy also addresses the needs of women and girls during pregnancy and postpartum. To achieve its objectives, Pakistan should implement scalable, equitable maternal nutrition interventions.
Maternal and child nutrition are crucial to the well-being of an individual. Malnutrition causes many health problems, including infant and adult deaths. It can also affect the economic productivity of individuals.
Postpartum haemorrhage
In Pakistan, nearly half of the women of reproductive age are anaemic, a condition that puts them at greater risk for heavy blood loss after giving birth. Furthermore, women in rural areas have limited access to ambulance services and may not be aware of best practices when treating postpartum haemorrhage. In addition, the staff at basic health centres may not have the skills or training to diagnose and treat the condition.
Postpartum haemorrhage is a potentially disastrous complication of pregnancy. This condition is cause by many factors. One of the most common is uterine atony. This condition is cause when the uterus does not contract properly after giving birth. This contraction is essential for sealing off bleeding after delivery.
In 1962, Shosuke and Utako Okamoto invented tranexamic acid, which they believed would reduce postpartum haemorrhage. They did not find any local doctors willing to undertake clinical trials, but the drug was pick up by a pharmaceutical company. It initially used for tooth extractions and heavy periods. However, it was only after Shakur-Still and Roberts’ study that the drug shown to decrease the risk of death by nearly a third after it administered within three hours.
Thankfully, tranexamic acid is now available in Pakistan for treating postpartum haemorrhage. This medicine can obtain inexpensively and easily. In Pakistan, a thriving pharmaceutical industry has enabled several companies to produce it domestically. It is a safe, cheap and readily available medicine that can improve the health of mothers and babies.
Importance of nutrition-sensitive interventions
In Pakistan, the prevalence of chronic and acute malnutrition remains high and the rates of stunting and wasting remain alarmingly high. While there has been a slow downward trend in the prevalence of acute malnutrition, the rates of wasting and stunting have steadily increased from 12.5% in 1990 to 17.7% in 2018.
The government of Pakistan has acknowledged the need for effective nutrition services and has adopted a systematic approach for combating malnutrition in the country. This approach has resulted in the nationwide integration of nutrition services. However, this change in policy has not yet translated into practice. Hence, the next step is to advocate for adequate resources for the nutrition-sensitive interventions in Pakistan.
The nutrition status of women is critical to improving their overall health. Nutrition plays a vital role during pregnancy and in the neonatal period. This has a profound impact on the health of children and their mothers. Studies have shown that low socioeconomic status of women has been associated with high prevalence of undernutrition. Moreover, a recent report shows that a reduction in gender inequality can contribute to a ten percent decrease in the prevalence of stunting in children.
In Pakistan, women who work in agriculture have higher rates of stunting than those who are not working in agriculture. In addition, women in agriculture have higher rates of underweight than women who don’t work in the agriculture sector. Furthermore, women in agriculture have less time and energy to care for their children.
IRMNCH&N programme
The IRMNCH&N programme is an innovative approach to the maternal nutrition problem in Pakistan. The programme has integrated different ongoing programmes and has strengthened the existing primary health care system. It currently employs over 4,000 lady health visitors (LHVs) who provide nutrition and maternal health care. These health care providers stationed in health facilities and assist medical doctors in performing their duties. This is the first time that such a programme has implemented in Pakistan.
In Pakistan, many rural families live below the poverty line and as a result, their children do not receive the essential nutrients they need to grow. As a result, many of them are underweight and suffer from anaemia. Insufficient nutrition affects both the mother and the baby. Children underweight and severely malnourished are at a high risk of stunting, which can have severe consequences on their motor and cognitive development.
Malnutrition is a global problem and the cause of morbidity and mortality among children. In Pakistan, maternal malnutrition is the number one cause of child mortality and morbidity and is associated with poor child growth and development. Moreover, poor nutrition affects the health and economic productivity of individuals.
Malnutrition is widespread in all provinces of the country. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, more than half of children stunted. In Punjab, the proportion of stunted children is 39 percent. The project will target these provinces and aim to increase national coverage through coordination between the country’s development partners.
Data collection
Malnutrition is a public health problem in developing countries and is especially important in rural areas. It affects children’s growth and development and is a major risk factor for child deaths. It leads to delayed cognitive development and physical growth, as well as the risk of many illnesses later in life. In Pakistan, over 40 percent of children under five stunted and the prevalence is higher in rural areas. In Sindh province, over 45 percent of children stunted, a higher proportion than in other provinces.
Data collection involved visiting each study participant in person at least once a month for a six-month period. Each participant assigned a unique Cluster ID, which then transmitted to the study’s data management system at the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. Each team member was responsible for supervising daily field activities and communicating with local community leaders.
Data collection conducted using a descriptive cross-sectional study design and non-probability convenient sampling. The sample population included mothers of children aged six to 59 months in the selected study area. The sample size was 100 women. The study questionnaire consisted of two parts: part 2 contained a socio-demographic overview and part three contained 15 questions about nutritional knowledge. The questionnaire translated into Urdu for the convenience of the mothers.
Participants surveyed for their dietary patterns, which included the intake of various food groups rich in micronutrients. The consumption patterns of the participants were unlikely to meet their nutrient requirements. However, participants who were less economically disadvantaged were more likely to consume food groups rich in micronutrients.
Recommended readings:
- Impact of Women’s Health on Economy in Developing Countries
- The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
- Growth Hormone Deficiency
- What Causes Burning Feet?
- What is Placenta?
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