Improvements in Maternal and Child Health
Japan Making a Difference
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Information
Japan's introduction of a handbook for pregnant mothers in 1942 led to the Mother and Child handbook of 1948, and the Maternal and Child Healthcare handbook of 1966. These helped to improve healthcare for expectant mothers and infants. Today, Japan's infant mortality rate is one of the lowest in the world at just two births per thousand. The handbook covers care from pregnancy to birth and early childhood, protecting both mother and child. This system led to Japan's international cooperation agency JICA introducing MCH handbooks, and supporting the improvement of maternal and child healthcare in developing countries. This program covers projects in Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Cambodia, and explores how Japanese aid has helped improve maternal care.