Health Care for Children
From Mongol Studies Online Reference
Contents |
[edit] Infant Care
According to a recent UNICEF report, the infant and under 5 child mortality rate has decreased. The major causes for this for under-five mortality are: respiratory infections, diarrhea, asphyxia, low birth weight, short spacing between births, and the young age of mothers.[1] some families have a difficult time meeting the nutritional needs of the infant. Additionally, there is a lack of accurate information concerning infant care. [2]
[edit] Access to Health Care
Access to doctors and health care facilities is sometimes difficult in Mongolia. The capital city, Ulaanbataar offers medical care and services. At the Aimag level there is a generally a hospital. At the soum level, there may be one or more generalist doctors. At the bag level health care is far more scarce. Doctors at the aimag and soums levels generally travel out to make house calls for pregnant women and new mothers.
[edit] Environmental Concerns
Access to clean drinking water for children under five is a major factor, as unclean or tainted water can cause infection, diseases, severe diarrhea, and other impairments. Additionally, hygiene issues, such as hand washing and promotion of other ways to prevent disease are being addressed by the Ministry of Health and several NGOs both local and international.
[edit] Lack of Pediatricians
Specialist training for pediatricians in Mongolia ceased in the early 1990s. Now there is a severe shortage of pediatricians leading to inadequate health care for children.
[edit] The Role of Traditional Medicine in Child Health Care
Traditional medicine plays a role in health care in Mongolia. In the case of the child, the parents' beliefs and views are passed on to the child. Some of these traditional remedies include: drinking the mothers first urine of the day (cure for a cold and wiping sheep fat oil on the child's body (for babies that don't sleep). There are many traditional remedies that are used in Modern Mongolia well into adulthood. Traditional Mongolian Medicine Overview
