Prenatal care and child health.

Abstract

Child health begins long before the birth of the baby. At they very least, child health care begins with prenatal care, but preferably begins with the mother's prior health as a child and adolescent herself. The longitudinal intergenerational viewpoint is necessary in order to improve the health status of infants and children. Many societal and demographic factors influence child health and child health care. The education, socioeconomic, and employment status of the parents are important, as well as their age, marital status, and family health history. Their geographic residence (urban, rural), health knowledge, and the degree of development of medical and health care resources play an important role in the availability and utilization of health care, both for themselves and their children.