CAIRO — A three- to five-year spacing between births is crucial for a mother’s health, according to health officials. After pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding, women require a rest period to recover physically and mentally, replenishing lost proteins and vitamins.
Prioritizing Maternal and Child Well-being
Dr. Abla Al-Alfi, the Deputy Minister of Health for Population and Family Development, is spearheading efforts to reduce unjustified cesarean deliveries. This initiative aligns with the Ministry’s broader strategy to enhance mother and child health.
The focus is on promoting reproductive health through spacing pregnancies. This includes implementing evidence-based guidelines from the Egyptian Health Council to ensure cesarean births are performed only when medically necessary. Improving the quality of care is also a key objective to lower newborn mortality rates.
Enhancing Care Standards
Al-Alfi emphasized the need to establish dedicated counseling rooms in private hospitals. She also called for the strict application of “Robson” standards, a globally recognized classification system, to determine appropriate candidates for cesarean delivery.
Accurate data collection and regular review of medical records are essential to ensure adherence to scientific protocols. These measures aim to safeguard maternal and child health effectively.
Did you know? Spacing births by 3 to 5 years allows mothers to fully recover their health and mental well-being after pregnancy and childbirth.
- A 3-5 year gap between births is recommended for maternal health.
- Women need a recovery period after childbirth and breastfeeding.
- Efforts are underway to reduce unnecessary cesarean deliveries.
- Counseling rooms and standardized protocols are being promoted in hospitals.
