This year marks the 100th anniversary of Finnish maternity and child health clinics. During this time, maternity and child health clinics have succeeded in bringing infant and maternal mortality rates to a record low, preventing infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, promoting public health, implementing a national vaccination programme, providing mental support for families and tackling ever-changing topical challenges.
Today, maternity and child health clinics reach practically all Finnish families who are expecting and/or have children under school age. Maternity and child health clinics also play an important role in developing the well-being of families and building a family-friendly Finland.
What kinds of challenges will maternity and child health clinic face in the future? The City of Helsinki is setting out to answer this question together with the Biodesign Finland innovation programme. Hanna Castrén-Niemi and
Annika Järvelin, innovation researchers of the programme funded by the City of Helsinki Innovation Fund, Aalto University, University of Helsinki, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and Helsinki University Hospital, will spend three weeks watching the daily toil at maternity and child health clinics and making observations on how health technology could be harnessed to respond to the needs of maternity and child health clinics during their second century.
Innovation researchers will be present at the Kamppi Family Centre from 29 August to 2 September 2022 and at the Kallio Family Centre from 5 to 9 September 2022. The schedule for the last week (26–30 September 2022) will be specified based on the observations made during the first two weeks. Visitors to Kamppi and Kallio Family Centres will receive more detailed information on the study on the spot.
Conclusions based on the observation periods as well as suggestions for future measures will be available in spring 2023.
More information
- 100
years of specialised maternity and child health care in Helsinki - Helsinki’s
first maternity and child health clinic opened its doors 100 years ago – Public
health nurse shares her experiences on dream job - biodesignfinland.fi(Link leads to external service)
- Ministry
of social affairs and health: Finnish maternity and child health clinic's
100th anniversary(Link leads to external service)