The history of China's maternal and child health care development

SummaryThe history of maternal and child health (MCH) development in China can be divided into six stages: before 1949 when the People's Republic of China was founded, traditional Chinese medicine shielded women's and children's health while modern medicine began to bud; 1949–1966, the MCH system was established and gradually improved; 1966–1976, the decade of the Cultural Revolution, the road to improve MCH twisted and turned along with the political instability; 1976–1990, especially after the “Reform” and “Opening Up”, China's MCH care had been booming and the MCH status continued to improve with the rapid social and economic development; 1990–2008, with the booming economy, MCH care gained increasingly national and international attention. Through improving legislation and investment, China made great strides in the improvement of MCH. After 2009, the comprehensive health care reform laid an institutional basis for the development of MCH and promotion of health equity.