Health care for children in Indian Armed Forces
1Dean & Dy Commandant, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 411040, India.
Insights
Child health in the Indian Armed Forces shows improved indicators and immunization coverage. However, the shift towards chronic complex disorders necessitates a life-course approach to pediatric healthcare.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Military Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Children of Armed Forces personnel represent 33% of healthcare clientele.
- Child health indicators and immunization coverage are superior to national averages.
- A significant shift in disease patterns from infectious to chronic complex disorders is observed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the changing morbidity and mortality patterns in children of Armed Forces personnel.
- To identify factors contributing to the shift in pediatric disease profiles.
- To inform future healthcare planning for a life-course approach.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of healthcare utilization data in military hospitals.
- Review of preventive, promotive, curative, and supportive care measures.
- Identification of emerging health challenges like lifestyle diseases and mental stress.
Main Results:
- Hospital admissions for nutritional and infectious diseases have decreased to 21%.
- Preventive and promotive health measures have positively impacted child health outcomes.
- Increased prevalence of lifestyle diseases (obesity, mental stress) and complex disorders requiring super specialty care.
Conclusions:
- The healthcare needs of Armed Forces children are evolving towards chronic and complex conditions.
- A comprehensive, life-course approach is essential for addressing current and future pediatric health challenges.
- Enhanced focus on mental health, lifestyle diseases, and super specialty care is required.
Abstract:
Children of Armed Forces personnel constitute 33% of the clientele dependant on our healthcare. Various child health indicators and immunization coverage of Indian Armed Forces children is better than the national figures. With improved patient care, it has been observed that the morbidity and mortality pattern of diseases affecting the children of Armed Forces personnel has shown a change from infectious diseases in the past to more of chronic complex disorders at present. Hospital admissions of children in military hospitals due to nutritional and infectious diseases have reduced and constitute only around 21% of all paediatric hospital admissions. Various factors responsible for this shift are preventive health measures (antenatal care, immunization), Active promotion of health (baby friendly hospital concept, Well baby clinic) curative health services (outpatient services, in-patient care, specialty care, supportive Care) and supportive care-reaching beyond like ASHA schools. Presently, we need to handle, life style diseases like obesity, mental stress, teach coping mechanisms for common stressors such as parental separation, family reunification, parental loss, behavioral problems, diseases other than infectious diseases requiring super specialty care. The challenge lies in planning the road ahead for these children and adolescents ensuring a life-course approach.
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