An Integrated urban development programme for needy women with twins or triplets

Abstract

In Africa mothers and children nut only form the majority of the population but are also recognized as the most vulnerable. The Ethiopian Gemini Trust has identified an extremely high risk group of mothers and children. Those mothers who have delivered twins or triplets are net only faced with increased material and perinatal risks but aiso with the almost insurmountable problems of child survival. Twin births are associated with pre-term delivery and low birth-weight, both important determinants of infant survival. Moreover, mothers who have delivered twins are more likely to have larger families. Under present urban conditions in Africa, large families invariably go hand in hand with poor socio-economic conditions. The Ethiopian Gemini Trust has estimated that the infant mortality amongst twins in Addis Ababa may be as high as 300 per 1.000 live-births a figure almost 30 times higher than developed countries.