Read: 858
Enhancing Community Care: Impact Stories - Fostering Mothers and Babies
The Integrated Maternal and Child Wellness Hub IMCWH at SingHealth Polyclinics SHP, specifically in Punggol, showcases a comprehensive healthcare approach med to improve coordination for the health of mothers and young children. Through the generous support of over S$2.5 million provided by Temasek Foundation, this pilot model focuses on supporting expectant mothers and infants during their most critical developmental phase from birth up to three years old.
In partnership with KK Women’s and Children's Hospital KKH and SHP, it optimizes maternal and child health in several ways:
At 18 and 30 months of age, young children undergo Enhanced Developmental Screening EDS, utilizing additional tools for detecting signs of developmental delays and autism.
Postnatal Depression Screening: Identifying mental health issues is critical, as it enables earlier intervention which can be highly effective.
Nutrition and Growth Monitoring: Ensuring proper dietary intake throughout the early years promotes healthy growth and development.
Parenting Education: This provides valuable guidance to mothers on caring for their children and identifying potential developmental concerns promptly.
The IMCWH employs a two-level system, with primary care nurses handling the first tier, and specialized healthcare professionals supporting those needing further attention at the second tier.
Challenges:
Initial identification of problems related to child development and early signs of autism were lacking. Low literacy rates in understanding nutrition and health among mothers were also prevalent concerns. Regular height and weight measurements alone did not provide comprehensive insights into child's health. Although advanced screening tools are avlable for better detection, their implementation was challenging due to the fast-paced nature of healthcare settings.
Improvements:
To address these challenges, IMCWH has been successful in conducting over 709 positive EDS cases out of 8624 children aged 18 months who showed signs of developmental delays. Additionally, among the 4,046 children with a body mass index exceeding the 90th percentile at age 18 months and requiring intervention, it identified around 471 children.
Furthermore, referrals for children needing support in child development departments doubled compared to other SHP clinics when they were one year old. A significant referral increase of 67 was observed since the roll-out of revised Child Development Screening CDS tools at 18 and 30 months.
Impact:
The successful pilot project has prompted a broader adoption strategy by SingHealth Polyclinics, scaling up the IMCWH model in two other polyclinics with high maternal health demand. Plans are underway to further expand this service to another clinic by late 2023, progressively integrating additional components such as postnatal depression screening, nutrition and growth monitoring, and parenting education.
The Ministry of Health has recognized the importance of these services and plans to include mother-child dyad services in multiple polyclinics, ming for scalability across 14 clinics by 2025. This expansion will significantly enhance healthcare support and contribute positively to improving maternal health and child development outcomes.
Contact: eml protected for more information.
Our Platforms:
Temasek Foundation
Accessibility Guidelines
Privacy Policy
Site Map
Download PDF
A
A
? 2023 Temasek Foundation
This article is reproduced from: https://www.temasekfoundation.org.sg/report2023/caring-for-mothers-and-babies/index.html
Please indicate when reprinting from: https://www.903r.com/Healthy_Baby/IMCWH_Project_Expansion.html
Integrated Maternal Child Wellness Hub Support Enhanced Developmental Screening for Infants Postnatal Depression Early Detection Strategies Nutrition and Growth Monitoring Techniques Parenting Education Programs Implementation Scalable Community Care Solutions Expansion