| In developing countries only 5-30% of the population at risk receives maternal and child care because these programmes emphasize "intensive individual attention" rather than "minimal services to all." It would be more logical to divide the services into obstetrics and the minor childhood illnesses and two sections: one concerned with normal obstetrics and the minor chilhood illnesses and one concerned with abnormal maternity cases and serious childhood illnesses. The hospitals and physicians would be reserved for the latter, whereas the former would be administered by auxiliaries. These auxiliaries would be trained to detect abnormalities and illnesses in children and pregnant women and to search out and examine as many persons at risk as possible. An additional task for them would be to teach hygiene and health measures in the homes of their patients. Sustained gains in improved health will only come when the home environment is improved, because much disease results from the squalor in which the patients live. Tables of statistical data on maternal and child care in Jamaica, Guatemala, Senegal, Thailand, and Tanzania are included in this paper as well as a suggested syllabus for training MCH auxiliaries. |