Over a couple of years, the role of taking care of newborn children and pregnant women was seen as a role of mothers and midwives in the society. Research has shown that the development of public maternal programs originated in Europe in the 19^th century after they noticed that children and healthy mothers were important to the country’s military, economic and political activities (Hofmeyr, 2005). On the other hand, civil servants and women’s organizations also fought for children and women’s health. In the early 20^th century, children and women’s health care became a priority of most public health operations with full support from the state (Abrahams et al, 2001).

In 1948, the United Nation’s clearly stated the responsibilities and roles of states and governments in the provision of assistance and care for children and mothers. The WHO’s constitution gave a declaration that one of its core activities was promotion of child health and maternal welfare(Badura, 1999). In 1950s, mostorganizations, mainly targeted children and mothers as vulnerable groups that needed special attention (Aligneetal,1997). This thought led to the formulation of policies on population control in countries with high fertility rates. These policies mainly stressed on the use of contraceptives as a measure of reducing population (Annie, 1999).

A movement that started in Alma Ata in the year 1978 also had the issues of mothers and children at heart as vulnerable groups. This approach gave an emphasis on health as a basic right of every human being, shedding light on equality inthe distribution of resources and provision of promotive and preventive health care (Cooper et al, 2004).

Changes in the nature of politics and the pressure from civil societies have led to the development of human rights programs and agreements on the promotion of maternal health care. These agreements have also given a provision of how maternal health, gender equality and the reduction of poverty work together to achieve national development and sustainability(Hoffman, 2004).

References

Abrahams, N., Jewkes, R&Mvo, Z. (2001). Health Care-Seeking Practices of

Pregnant Women and the Role of the Midwife in Cape Town, South Africa. Journal of

Midwifery and Women’s Health, 46(4), 89-90.

Aligne, C. A., & J. Stoddard. (1997). “Tobacco and Children: An Economic Evaluation of the

Medical Effects of Parental Smoking,” Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 151(7), 648-653.

Annie E. Casey Foundation (1999). The Right Start: Conditions of Babies and Their Families in America’s Largest Cities—A Kids Count Special Journal, 58(9), 387-388.

Badura, M. (1999). “The Healthy Start Program: Mobilizing to Reduce Infant Mortality and Morbidity,”Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 14(4), 328-331.

Cooper, D., Morroni, C., Orner, P., Moodley, J., Harries, J., Cullingworth, L. &

Hoffman, M. (2004). Documentingtransformation in reproductive health policy and status. Journal of the Reproductive Health Matters,12(24), 116-117.

Hofmeyr, J. (2005). Improving the Experience of Birth in Poor Communities. Journal of the East London Hospital Complex, 53(4), 303-312.