Effectiveness of Healthcare Interventions in Reducing Child Mortality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/ijdcs.2174Keywords:
Child Mortality, Healthcare Interventions, Maternal Health, Preventive Care, Social Determinants of HealthAbstract
Purpose: The general objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of healthcare interventions in reducing child mortality.
Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library.
Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the effectiveness of healthcare interventions in reducing child mortality. Preliminary empirical review revealed that a combination of preventive, curative, and rehabilitative healthcare interventions significantly reduced child mortality rates, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It highlighted the critical role of maternal health, the effectiveness of vaccination programs, and the importance of tailored interventions that consider specific community needs. Additionally, the study underscored the necessity of addressing social determinants of health, such as poverty and access to clean water, to achieve sustainable reductions in child mortality. The findings emphasized the need for a comprehensive, context-specific, and multi-sectoral approach to improve child health outcomes.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Health Benefit Model (HBM), Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Framework and Ecological Systems Theory may be used to anchor future studies on healthcare interventions in reducing child mortality. The study recommended strengthening the integration of healthcare services across different levels of care and adopting a family-centered approach. It called for further research into the synergistic effects of combining multiple healthcare interventions and advocated for the scale-up of successful programs. The study emphasized the importance of community engagement, supportive health policies, and the allocation of sufficient resources to maternal and child health programs. It also recommended robust monitoring and evaluation systems, transparency, and accountability in healthcare programs. Lastly, the study underscored the importance of international collaboration and knowledge sharing to enhance the implementation of healthcare interventions and reduce child mortality globally.
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