Human development

Countries in Africa should promote maternal, infant and child health and report on progress, in order to curb high death rates on the continent, according to the African Union. There are continents where women give birth and it is a pleasant experience because they are bringing life, said AU Commissioner for Social Affairs Bience Gawana. In our continent, unfortunately, that is not always the case. Women also bring death to themselves and their children. Progress on the promotion of maternal, infant and child health featured during the 12th African Union Heads of State and Government Summit, which ended on Wednesday. Ms Gawana said the AU had agreed to launch a continent-wide campaign to address the issue.

At the 1990 World Summit for Children, it was stated that more than a million infant deaths could have been avoided if infants had been exclusively breastfed for six months (UNICEF, 1995). Three of the four most important threats to survival of children in South Africa are diarrhoeal disease, acute respiratory infection, and malnutrition (UNICEF, 1993). Failure to breastfeed has been linked to all these health problems.

Marion Stevens, treatment monitor with the Health Systems Trust, reflects on adolescent sexual and reproductive healthcare during Youth Month.

With June being Youth Month, it's important to consider and reflect on the area of adolescent sexual and reproductive healthcare. This is an area that is often ignored as we grapple with the reality that adolescents are choosing tobe sexually active, but cultural practices often limit open communication about sex with our cllildren. As nurses we have a responsibility to provide care of adolescents' sexual health, which also includes the results of unplanned pregnancies,abortion, spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and maternal mortality and morbidity.

Health experts have warned that South Africa's chances of meeting United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) related to child mortality are becoming increasingly slim.

An information campaign hopes to empower communities in Ekurhuleni to be aware of responsible sexual practices.

The Good Start Study was a prospective cohort study of 665 HIV positive women who attended routine PMTCT services. The women and infants were followed for 36 weeks after birth with data collection during home visits every 2 weeks until 12 weeks and then monthly until 9 months. At each scheduled visit infant feeding practices were recorded through 24 hour and previous 3 day recall. The study was undertaken in three sites Paarl (Western Cape), Umzimkulu (Eastern Cape) and Umlazi (KwaZulu-Natal). Sites were selected to highlight differences in socio-economic regions, health infra-structure, rural-urban locations, and HIV prevalence.

The Good Start Study was a prospective cohort study of 665 HIV positive women who attended routine PMTCT services. The women and infants were followed for 36 weeks after birth with data collection during home visits every 2 weeks until 12 weeks and then monthly until 9 months. At each scheduled visit infant feeding practices were recorded through 24 hour and previous 3 day recall. The study was undertaken in three sites Paarl (Western Cape), Umzimkulu (Eastern Cape) and Umlazi (KwaZulu-Natal). Sites were selected to highlight differences in socio-economic regions, health infra-structure, rural-urban locations, and HIV prevalence.