POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE OF BEIRA-ÍNDICO
NURSING COURSE IN MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH
(MCH)
Individual Work For The English Class - 1st Year
Topic: Maternal and Child Health (MCH),
Student:
Ana Rafael
Instructor:
Félix Raposo
Beira, June 2025
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Índex
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3
1. Concept ..................................................................................................................................... 4
2. The Role of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) ....................................................................... 4
3. The Competencies of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) ........................................................ 4
4. Where can health unit staff work?............................................................................................. 4
5. Levels of Health Care................................................................................................................ 5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................... 6
References ..................................................................................................................................... 7
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Introduction
Hello! This work will address the role of the Nurse in Maternal and Child Health
(MCH), their competencies, the places where they can work, and the different levels of
health care. This information is essential to understand how health professionals
contribute to the comprehensive care of women and new-borns, promoting preventive,
diagnostic, and treatment actions at various stages of care.
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1. Concept
Maternal and Child health nursing is a specialized area of nursing that focuses on the
care of pregnant women, mothers, and children. Nurses in this field work to promote
health and well-being for these populations by providing prenatal care during childbirth
and postpartum care, in addition to caring for children’s health.
2. The Role of Maternal and Child Health (MCH)
According to UNICEF (1993), from the beginning of pregnancy, it is important for
health professionals to provide educational guidance to women and to be able to
identify women at risk of facing difficulties during the pregnancy process.
The nurse should stay very close to the pregnant woman during and after delivery, as
they will assist mothers with the initial breastfeeding of the new-borns and encourage
the initiation of breastfeeding as soon as possible, ideally immediately after birth.
3. The Competencies of Maternal and Child Health (MCH)
Intervene in providing health care to women and new-borns, acting in
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment components;
Participate in planning, management, control, and evaluation of activities within
their area of intervention;
Develop and implement training and development plans for personnel in their
area;
Conduct scientific research activities in their field of expertise;
Diagnose and solve problems related to the provision of maternal and child
health services;
Design and implement maternal and child health programs;
Plan and manage maternal and child health programs and projects;
Implement public health policies and programs;
Intervene to mitigate maternal and child health issues.
4. Where can Health unit staff work?
General, provincial, or district health units;
Maternity hospitals;
Specialized health centres;
Units for administration and management of pediatrics and maternity wards;
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Universities, institutes, schools, centres, and departments dedicated to health
education and scientific research;
Ministries, Secretariats of State, Institutes, Offices, and related entities;
NGOs dedicated to providing, managing, and developing health services and
care for women and children;
Entities involved in implementing, monitoring, and evaluating public health
policies, programs, and projects;
Other related institutions involved in social health development practices or
analysis.
5. Levels of Health Care
The levels of health care are primary, secondary, and tertiary.
Primary: This stage handles the simplest cases, with low complexity. The focus
is on scheduling consultations and basic exams such as dressings, X-rays, and
electrocardiograms. This is the work carried out by Basic Health Units (UBS).
There are also actions for public health promotion in community spaces, such as
vaccination campaigns and dengue control, which are considered essential at this
level.
Secondary: Emergency Care Units (UPA) are part of this stage. Specialists like
cardiologists, ophthalmologists, endocrinologists, etc., appear here. With a well-
defined flow, after the initial primary stage, patients are referred to the second
stage, where they receive appropriate attention for their specific case. Equipment
and infrastructure are suitable for the demand, allowing professionals to
intervene in acute or chronic diseases and emergencies.
Tertiary: Large hospitals correspond to this level. The goal here is to ensure
that procedures to maintain vital signs are prioritized. Technology becomes the
main ally for doctors and other professionals responsible for patient care.
Despite the division into three levels, technological resources can be applied
across all stages. For exemple:
Electronic Medical Records: To improve hospital quality, electronic records are
essential. This tool records, stores, and makes available the main information about a
patient
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Conclusion
Guidance on the various situations that promote breastfeeding, through technical actions
involving mother-child relationships, is the responsibility of the nurse. Thus, health
professionals highlight favourable situations for breastfeeding through technical actions
such as fostering positive mother-child interactions.
Health teams should be trained to welcome pregnant women, ensuring appropriate
guidance regarding the benefits of breastfeeding for the mother, the child, the family,
and society. This information during prenatal care is of fundamental importance for
understanding how milk is produced, the importance of early and on-demand
breastfeeding, thereby helping to increase the mother’s confidence in her ability to
breastfeed and involving family members and the community in this process.
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References
National Oral Health Program / National Directorate of Medical Assistance. Strategic
Oral Health Plan 2013-2016. Ministry of Health.
Section of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Summary of the Strategic Plan for
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, (2007) Ministry of Health.
WHO-AIMS Report On Mental Health Systems in Mozambique, (2009). World Health
Organization/Ministry of Health Mozambique.