The Higher Population Council confirmed that maternal and child health are fundamental to the well-being of families and healthy communities. Between 2010 and 2023, Jordan recorded approximately 2.9 million births, representing nearly a quarter of the population. The male-to-female birth ratio stood at 105 male births for every 100 female births.
اضافة اعلان
In a statement issued on Sunday in conjunction with World Health Day, which is celebrated tomorrow under the theme "Healthy Start for a Bright Future," the Council highlighted that improving the quality of maternal and child healthcare within integrated health systems contributes to ensuring a brighter future for society. The Council also mentioned a position paper titled "Ensuring Healthy Lives and Promoting Well-being for All at All Ages," which will be presented during the 58th Session of the Commission on Population and Development at the United Nations in New York, from April 7 to 11.
The statement emphasized the importance of addressing child marriage, which accounted for about 15% of all first-time marriages between 2010 and 2023. This poses significant risks to maternal health, as 4.6% of Jordanian women gave birth to their first child before the age of 18. The Council stressed the need to strengthen healthcare before, during, and after pregnancy, along with health education, proper nutrition, and early screening for chronic diseases and breast cancer.
Regarding cesarean births, the Council reported that about 43% of births in Jordan in 2023 were through cesarean section. The Council called for the promotion of safe natural childbirth under medical supervision, as well as providing psychological support for mothers during pregnancy and childbirth. It also urged the improvement of postnatal care, monitoring the health and mental well-being of mothers, and promoting exclusive breastfeeding, which lasts for only a month in Jordan. Additionally, family planning services are crucial, as unmet needs for contraception reach 11%, and rise to 33% when including those using traditional methods.
In terms of neonatal health, the Council underscored the importance of post-birth medical checks, vaccinations, and proper nutrition. It reported that only 24% of infants under six months old are exclusively breastfed, according to the 2023 Population and Family Health Survey.
The Council praised Jordan's efforts over the past two decades to improve the healthcare sector through digital transformation, automating maternal mortality records, and launching an electronic system for reporting births and deaths, which has enhanced the efficiency and responsiveness of the health system.
The Council also noted that the Ministry of Health's strategic plan for 2023-2025 focuses on improving primary and preventive healthcare, reducing the spread of infectious and non-communicable diseases, and strengthening reproductive and child health services.
These efforts have resulted in a rise in life expectancy to 75.3 years in 2023, a decrease in the under-five mortality rate to 15 deaths per 1,000 live births, a reduction in maternal mortality to 24 deaths per 100,000 live births, and a decrease in child marriage rates to 11%, down from 17% in 2017.
Despite these improvements, the Council pointed out challenges in reproductive health services, including limited integration between reproductive health programs and primary care, varying service levels across regions, access difficulties for some women, low awareness of available services, and limited female participation in health decisions affecting them.
The Council emphasized the need to adopt the "Family Health" model in primary healthcare and to implement the National Reproductive Health Strategy 2020-2030 through programs and projects that enhance the health and well-being of all family members.
(Petra)
