Informed Motherhood: Young Mothers’ Experiences in Child Health Care in Rural Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Abstract

Child health care is widely seen as primarily the mothers' responsibility, and the quality-of-care children receive depends on mothers’ knowledge, resources, and experience. Despite extensive global research on maternal and child health, few studies explore the daily lives of young mothers in rural Pakistan, especially the barriers they face in accessing child healthcare services. This study focuses on young mothers in Sihala village, Rawalpindi District, examining their knowledge, practices, and obstacles in managing child health. A qualitative approach was used, selecting eight young mothers with at least one child between one and three years old through purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted and analyzed thematically to find common patterns in maternal experiences. The results show several challenges affecting child healthcare, including limited access to healthcare facilities, financial constraints, transportation issues, reliance on traditional remedies, and difficulties in meeting children’s developmental needs, such as sleep, nutrition, and early learning. The study emphasizes the need for better communitybased maternal education, accessible healthcare services, and stronger support systems for young mothers. Improving maternal knowledge and healthcare infrastructure can greatly improve child health outcomes in rural Pakistan.