Children and Women’s Health in South East Asia: Gap Analysis and Solutions

Abstract

In response to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) commitment, eight selected countries in the South East Asia region have made a remarkable reduction in infant and child mortality, while a few have achieved an SDG 3.2 target of 25 and 12 for child and neonatal mortality rate, respectively, well before 2030. Across these eight countries, there is a large variation in the achievement of the nine dimensions of maternal, neonatal, and child health service coverage. The poorest wealth quintiles who reside in rural areas are the most vulnerable and left behind from access to service. The rich rural residents are better off than the poor counterparts as they have financial means for travel and access to health services in urban town. The recent 2019 global Universal Health Coverage (UHC) monitoring produced a UHC service coverage index and an incidence of catastrophic health spending, which classified countries into four quadrants using global average. Countries belonging to a high coverage index and a low incidence of catastrophic spending are good performers. Countries having high coverage but also a high incidence of catastrophic spending need to improve their financial risk protection. Countries having low coverage and a high incidence of catastrophic spending need to boost service provision capacity, as well as expand financial protection. Countries having low coverage and a low incidence of catastrophic spending are the poor performers where both coverage and financial protection need significant improvement. In these countries, poor households who cannot afford to pay for health services may forego required care and instead choose to die at home. This paper recommended countries to spend adequately in the health sector, strengthen primary health care (PHC) and safeguard the poor, mothers and children as a priority in pathways towards UHC.

Adjusting the family’s life: A grounded theory of caring for children with special healthcare needs in rural areas, Thailand

“…In the Thai context, parenting roles attributed to fathers, mothers, and grandparents are interdependent and [ 17 – 19 ] are involved in a caring process for CSHCN that seeks to manage the diseases or equipment as well as to maintain family roles and relationships. However, little is known regarding the exact burden and processes of caring for CSHCN in Thailand, and there are no special supportive programs that directly aim to reduce the burden and adverse effects on the families of CSHCN [ 19 – 21 ].…”

Health care network (dis)articulation in late and moderate prematurity

“…The international scenario recognizes the important role of PHC in child health, but emphasizes that it has been neglected in many countries in favor of a disease-specific and hospital-oriented approach, probably due to a lack of political will and underinvestment. in health infrastructure and workforce (25) .…”

Exploring the Role of Social Networks in Facilitating Health Service Access Among Low-Income Women in the Philippines: A Qualitative Study

“…12 - 14 Despite the known benefits of social networks to health and health care access, catastrophic health expenditure is one such persistent barrier to health care access and use among women in South East Asia. 15 , 16 A patchwork of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) schemes have been implemented across South East Asian countries in recent years with the aim of eliminating out-of-pocket payment for health services, reducing the incidence of catastrophic health expenditure, and facilitating equitable health care access for women. 16 However, for women living in poverty, additional indirect and opportunity costs associated with health care may deter care-seeking behavior, in spite of UHC policies.…”

“… 16 However, for women living in poverty, additional indirect and opportunity costs associated with health care may deter care-seeking behavior, in spite of UHC policies. 16 - 20 …”