The health system as a gateway to strengthening systems of l support for women and children in the first 1000 days
1
Children's Institute, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2335
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Global and national frameworks call for integrated, multisectoral approaches that move beyond a narrow survival agenda so that women and children can thrive [1,2]. Given its routine contact with pregnant women, caregivers and young children, the health system is a key gateway for coordinated supports across sectors, especially in the first 1000 days [2-4]. This symposium presents empirical work from the UCT Children’s Institute showing how health platforms can be leveraged and strengthened to improve holistic mother and child wellbeing.
METHODS:
The session will comprise three presentations and a plenary discussion. The presentations will include: • Challenging traditional paradigms of antenatal care: support beyond clinical care - drawing on findings from a feasibility study on group antenatal care [5]. • Strengthening systems for early birth registration and early access to the child support grant through the health system – presenting on the LifeStart project conducted in partnership with key government departments. • Strengthening violence prevention in and through the health system - particularly on the intersections between violence against women and violence against children in the first 1000 days [6].
RESULTS:
Our work has shown that integrating cross sectoral services through health platforms, positions the health system as a gateway to a broader package of rights and social services for women and children. This gateway function can be operationalised through routine facilitated information sharing, integrated referral pathways, spaces and opportunities that enable peer support for pregnant women, formal inclusion of non-clinical support through the health system, and on site co-location of cross-sectoral services.
CONCLUSIONS:
Leveraging routine maternal–child contacts to integrate cross sectoral services positions the health system as a high impact gateway in the first 1000 days. Thereby, improving access, coordination and uptake of supports that are foundational for early child development, with benefits for lifelong health and wellbeing.
Global and national frameworks call for integrated, multisectoral approaches that move beyond a narrow survival agenda so that women and children can thrive [1,2]. Given its routine contact with pregnant women, caregivers and young children, the health system is a key gateway for coordinated supports across sectors, especially in the first 1000 days [2-4]. This symposium presents empirical work from the UCT Children’s Institute showing how health platforms can be leveraged and strengthened to improve holistic mother and child wellbeing.
METHODS:
The session will comprise three presentations and a plenary discussion. The presentations will include: • Challenging traditional paradigms of antenatal care: support beyond clinical care - drawing on findings from a feasibility study on group antenatal care [5]. • Strengthening systems for early birth registration and early access to the child support grant through the health system – presenting on the LifeStart project conducted in partnership with key government departments. • Strengthening violence prevention in and through the health system - particularly on the intersections between violence against women and violence against children in the first 1000 days [6].
RESULTS:
Our work has shown that integrating cross sectoral services through health platforms, positions the health system as a gateway to a broader package of rights and social services for women and children. This gateway function can be operationalised through routine facilitated information sharing, integrated referral pathways, spaces and opportunities that enable peer support for pregnant women, formal inclusion of non-clinical support through the health system, and on site co-location of cross-sectoral services.
CONCLUSIONS:
Leveraging routine maternal–child contacts to integrate cross sectoral services positions the health system as a high impact gateway in the first 1000 days. Thereby, improving access, coordination and uptake of supports that are foundational for early child development, with benefits for lifelong health and wellbeing.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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