Addressing Maternal and Child Health Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa: Strategies and

Progress – PLAN

1. Case Study evidence to use:

The case study evidence for exploring maternal and child health in Sub-Saharan Africa includes:

1. Lartey, A. (2008). Maternal and child nutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa: challenges and
interventions. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society.
2. Watson, D., Mushamiri, P., Beeri, P., Rouamba, T., Jenner, S., Proebstl, S., ... & INPreP
Study Group. (2023). Behaviour change interventions improve maternal and child
nutrition in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. PLOS Global Public Health, 3(3),
e0000401.
3. Doctor, H. V., Nkhana-Salimu, S., & Abdulsalam-Anibilowo, M. (2018). Health facility
delivery in sub-Saharan Africa: successes, challenges, and implications for the 2030
development agenda. BMC public health.

The carefully chosen references for this investigation provide a window into a space where
issues and solutions collide, particularly in relation to maternal and child nutrition, behavior
modification techniques, and the provision of healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa. Each reference
acts as a unique entry point that enables us to view the complex web of problems affecting the
health and wellbeing of mothers and children in this area.

2. Theory that I will use

The case studies pertaining to maternal and child health dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa will be
skillfully dissected using the Dependency Theory's analytical framework. This theory's central
claim is that the causes of global inequality stem from the unequal interactions between
industrialized and developing countries, which perpetuate cycles of underdevelopment. The
complicated web of historical and structural factors that intimately interconnect and contribute to
the significant issues observed in mother and child nutrition within the region will be
meticulously investigated via the lens of dependency theory. By using this strategy, the covert
effects of outside forces will be exposed, shining a bright light on their effects on healthcare
accessibility and the success of regional development initiatives.

Reference to theory: Ghosh, B. N. (2019). Dependency theory revisited. Routledge.

3. My response
This essay makes the case that tackling these problems is essential for promoting well-being and
social fairness in the region by studying the obstacles to and interventions in maternal and child
health in Sub-Saharan Africa. While the systematic review by Watson et al. (2023) underlines
the effectiveness of behavior modification therapies, the evidence from Lartey (2008)
emphasizes the urgent challenges. Doctor et al. (2018) also highlight the benefits and
implications of advances in health facility delivery. This argument contends that historical and
structural inequalities have sustained health disparities by drawing on Ghosh's Dependency
Theory (2019). Understanding these elements is essential for developing strategies that empower
communities, improve access to healthcare, and advance Sub-Saharan Africa's overall
development.

4. Draft Introduction

Introduction:
Population health and well-being are fundamental preconditions for the constant pursuit of global
development and the enhancement of human wellbeing. The issues and potential solutions
relating to maternal and child health in Sub-Saharan Africa become essential parts of a larger
discussion on social progress within this framework. This essay sets out to investigate the
complex environment surrounding maternal and child health in the area, taking into account the
significant obstacles that stand in the way of progress, the evidence-based interventions that
show promise, and the use of Dependency Theory as a conceptual framework to shed light on the
underlying dynamics. With its rich cultural diversity, Sub-Saharan Africa faces numerous
difficult problems with mother and child health that affect every aspect of society life. Lartey's
seminal study from 2008 emphasizes the seriousness of these issues by highlighting the negative
effects of high rates of maternal mortality, child malnutrition, and the prevalence of preventable
diseases.

These challenges, which are ingrained profoundly, pose enormous obstacles to reaching full
human development. The need of initiatives to address these gaps is further highlighted by
Doctor et al. (2018), who offer insights into the consequences of these problems in the context of
the 2030 development goal. Evidence-based solutions provide glimmer of hope amidst these
complex difficulties. The potential of behavior modification programs to improve mother and
child nutrition is revealed by Watson et al.'s comprehensive study (2023). These initiatives,
which are supported by empirical data, highlight the power of changing individual behaviors to
improve the wellbeing of mothers and children. Improved health results could potentially spread
throughout communities if these treatments are woven into Sub-Saharan Africa's healthcare
system, spurring development on a number of fronts.

The Dependency Theory, supported by Ghosh (2019), which sheds light on the complex
interplay of global inequalities and their implications for development, serves as the guide for
this investigation. It is important to recognize the role that structural and historical factors have
had in creating health disparities within Sub-Saharan Africa. This theory explains how outside
factors and historical trends have contributed to the current health environment in the area,
putting the problems within a larger global framework.