Maternal and Child Health, Reproductive Health, and Nutrition

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Background
Although Cambodia has in the past decade made significant progress toward reducing under-five and infant mortality, surpassing its Millennium Development Goal #4 targets, the country’s rates are still higher than in neighboring Vietnam and Thailand. In addition, the neonatal mortality and malnutrition rates remain major public health problems. With significant USAID assistance, the Cambodian Ministry of Health has improved reproductive, maternal, new born and child health through implementation of the Health Sector Strategic Plan 2008-2015. However, limited human and financial resources are a major constraint in expanding life-saving health interventions that will reduce maternal mortality. In 2010, the Ministry of Health adopted the Fast Track Initiative Road Map for Reducing Maternal and Newborn Mortality 2010-2015, which outlines effective initiatives to save the lives of women and children.

Objectives
USAID has worked closely with the Ministry of Health to improve reproductive, maternal and child health care in Cambodia since 1993. This support has been through national and international partners to strengthen health systems and advance the maternal and child health agenda in 11 of Cambodia’s 24 provinces. USAID’s objectives are to build the capacity of Ministry of Health staff at all levels; increase the quality of health services at referral hospitals and health centers; increase coverage of maternal and child health, reproductive health and family planning services; build the capacity of community volunteers to provide health education; and strengthen the overall health system, including information systems and logistics management.

Results
• Helped increase the use of modern family planning methods among married women from 19% to 35% from 2000 to 2010.

• Helped increase the number of deliveries assisted by skilled providers from 32% to 71% over the same period.

• Helped increase the number of fully immunized children from 40% to 79% over the same period.

• Helped increase the percentage of households with iodized salt, a cheap and affective method for preventing a range of health problems, from 25% to 83% over the same period.