title: Public health nurses' contribution to maternal and infant health in Ireland.
abstract: As the health practitioners most closely involved with new mothers and babies, public health nurses in Ireland have an important contribution to make to the health of this population group.They deliver a service of preventative health care to mothers and babies that begins in the postnatal period. This paper considers the role of the public health nurse in maternal and infant health, and explores the notion that public health nurses are afforded the appropriate opportunities to contribute to the health of this population group. In order to reduce the health inequalities that are known to exist for new mothers and babies, the commitment of the health executive is needed for the development of a new model of delivering nursing services in the community.
authors.affiliation: Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Dwyer
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007494:Ireland; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011181:Postnatal Care; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011637:Public Health Nursing