Pre-Natal Care: A Foundation for Safe Delivery and Healthy Childhood

Pregnancy and birth are two of the most dangerous events a woman living in a developing country can face during her lifetime.  According to the United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF): 

"A woman in sub-Saharan Africa has a 1 in 16 chance of dying in pregnancy or childbirth, compared to a 1 in 4,000 risk in a developed country – the largest difference between poor and rich countries of any health indicator."

While the numbers are alarming, there are simple interventions that improve a mother's and a child's likelihood for survival.  Pre-natal care, or the care a woman receives during her pregnancy, can help reduce the risk of mortality in any setting.  In fact, babies of mothers who receive pre-natal care are:

• 3 times less likely to be born low birth weight babies 
• and are 5 times less likely to die in infancy 

than those babies born to mothers who do not receive pre-natal care (National Women's Health Information Center).


Some of the benefits of pre-natal care include:

• Identification of risk signs early in pregnancy
• Improved nutritional status of the mother and child, which can help prevent birth defects and developmental problems
• Treatment of illnesses that can be passed on to the baby (including malaria, tetanus and HIV among others)
• Evaluation of the mother's overall health and well-being
• and preparation of an emergency plan if something goes wrong during delivery.

Any one of these activities could mean the difference between life and death for a child and her mother.  

So, what are we doing to make a difference in the lives of mothers and their children?

The TARA Project is partnering with two Emory University graduate students to improve pre-natal care for women living in our Kenyan community.  By working with local midwives in Kenya, The TARA Project and Emory scholars are developing pre-natal record keeping systems that will ensure a continuity of care for pregnant women.  

What can you do to make a difference in the lives of mothers and their children?

Find out more about our pre-natal care partnership with Emory by tuning in on Wednesday for a detailed blog entry on our upcoming programs in maternal health.  Stay informed; stay active.