title: Achieving Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5: a snapshot of life in rural India.
abstract: The case studies presented here illustrate the poignant reality of life for mothers and children in rural India. We highlight the challenges of achieving millennium development goals (MDGs) 4 and 5, by exploring the reasons behind maternal and childhood mortality using the three-delays model as a framework. Gender disparities, lack of empowerment of women, poor understanding of life-threatening illness, the inability to know when and where to seek help, security issues, deficiencies in understanding cultural perceptions, poorly equipped health facilities and a lack of skilled personnel are all highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Khristiya Seva Niketan Hospital, Sarenga, West Bengal, India. shubhro2001@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Mullick
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Serle
mesh_terms: D046688:Child Mortality; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D019035:Rural Health Services; D050497:Stillbirth; D013997:Time Factors; D014480:United Nations; D055815:Young Adult