Continuity of Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Care through MCH Handbook for Ensuring the Quality of Life

Dr. Shafi Ullah Bhuiyan, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., Ph.D., JSPS Post Doctoral Fellow, International Collaboration Division, Faculty of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Japan
Prof. Dr. Yasuhide Nakamura, M.D., Ph.D., International Collaboration Division, Faculty of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Japan

Related article (Japanese / Chinese)

Abstract
Comprehensive approaches of health promotion and the quality of reproductive health care have been identified as key elements of the maternal and child health (MCH) handbook development strategy. After adopting the strategy and getting experience from Japanese MCH handbook some countries have been implementing handbook system in its regular MCH program. Since 1998 International symposium and conference on MCH handbook multidisciplinary experts contributed their valuable thoughts, which were focusing mainly on MCH handbook initiatives, development, expansion as well as approaches to its utilization and research scopes. Specific actions are proposed for advocacy, communication, networking, collaboration, and partnerships for the development, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and sustainability of MCH handbook program in the world. The successful outcome of model projects and or field researches i.e. community based and hospital based survey find out the effects of utilization of handbooks in various countries. Up until now, International collaboration symposium and conference on MCH handbook experts have exchanged and shared evidence from several countries. Experts also have suggested that development of MCH handbook has been successful in making policy out of practice and vice versa through effective approach. MCH handbook therefore, could be an effective tool for continuity of maternal, neonatal and child health care to ensure the quality of life.

Cover pages of selected MCH handbooks in the world

Key words: Maternal health, child health, neonatal health, handbook, continuum care, developing countries, Japan

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*For more information, please visit the following website(s);
http://www.hands.or.jp/mchtokyo08/en/index.shtml
http://volunteer.hus.osaka-u.ac.jp/mch5/index.htm
http://volunteer.hus.osaka-u.ac.jp/MCH_handbook/top.htm

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