In response to Making Pregnancy Safer, what are the current programs in the country to address maternal mortality and morbidity? Cite at least 1.
1. MNCHN Strategy or Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) Services Strategy by the Department of Health (DOH).
The MHCN Strategy by the DOH has been implemented to reduce neonatal and maternal mortality by effective population-wide use and provision of MNHCN services. Particularly, this strategy ensures a universal access to and utilization of an MNCHN Core Package of interventions and services not only to the mother and the newborn but also to the community they belong to. The MNCHN Core Package is useful in each phase of the woman's pregnancy, from antepartum to postpartum periods. For one, interventions and services during the pre-pregnancy or antepartum stage include provision of folate and iron supplements, family planning services, prevention and management of pre-existing health conditions, prenatal visits, and counseling. Part of the goals of the MNCHN Strategy is the establishment of delivery networks as well to ensure that the services and interventions are met and given to women at all levels of care. It also primarily presents the rapid build-up and coordination with PhilHealth and other DOH departments or branches through settlements of appropriate standards and financing mechanisms to provide support to local planning and development of the strategy.
2. National Safe Motherhood Program by the Department of Health (DOH).
DOH’s National Safe Motherhood Program main goal is to make necessary collaborations with Local Government Units [LGUs] in eradicating maternal and child care mortality and morbidity issues. This is achieved through mobilization of service delivery networks from public and private providers to ensure the dispatch of the maternal-newborn service packages in provinces and localities. Its other main goal is the provision of a core knowledge base and support systems facilitating the quality delivery of maternal and newborn health services in the country. Part of its program components also include the institutionalization of a safe blood supply network with support from the National Voluntary Blood Program and incorporation of behavior change interventions in collaboration with the Health Promotion and Communication Service.
What can you suggest in order to decrease our maternal mortality and morbidity in the country? Give at least 3 suggestions.
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Increase access to reproductive health, sexual health, and family planning services, especially in rural areas. Having adequate knowledge is truly significant in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity in the Philippines. As future parents, it is important for married couples to engage in mass seminars and/or classes about preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium care to obtain sufficient information necessary for a positive pregnancy outcome (The Maternal Health Study, n.d.). This will also allow them to plan ahead of time on the things they need to do and habits they need to change to ensure optimal health and capacity to care for their future baby. At the same time, the government must ensure the provision of accurate educational materials and the overall accessibility of these services for the Filipinos.
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Access to contraception, safe abortion services. Because a large population of the Filipino people are Roman Catholics, there is an existent ideology and belief that condoms, birth control pills, and other forms contraceptive use are considered to be similar to abortion. While wide and unprejudiced acceptance of contraceptive use and safe abortion services are still a long way to go in this country, this concept is important to be pursued and advocated for especially since most pregnancies here in the Philippines are unplanned/unwanted.
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Skilled attendance at childbirth. According to the article by Bale, Stoll, and Lucas (2003), “a skilled birth attendant is a person with midwifery skills, such as a midwife, nurse, or physician, who has been trained to proficiency in the skills necessary to manage normal labor and delivery. A skilled attendant recognizes the onset of complications, performs essential interventions, starts treatment, and supervises the referral of mother and baby for interventions that are beyond their competence or not possible in the particular setting.” Skilled birth attendance and healthcare providers are basic requirements towards positive pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, seminars and training programs that develop vital skills necessary in maternal and child care is necessary to reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity.
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Strengthening antenatal care and services. High quality antenatal care mostly comprises screenings and early identification of pregnancy-related risks and complications. It also establishes access to services on health education, diagnostic tests, vaccines, and treatments of diseases such as STIs, anemia, and hypertension. A strengthened delivery of antenatal care can thereby significantly reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity.
References:
Bale J.R., Stoll B.J., & Lucas A.O. (2003). Improving birth outcomes: Meeting the challenge in the developing world. National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK222105/
Department of Health. (2011). MNCHN Strategy manual of operations. https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/publications/MNCHNMOPMay4withECJ.pdf
Department of Health (2018). National safe motherhood program. https://doh.gov.ph/national-safe-motherhood-program
The Maternal Health Study (n.d.). Maternal and Neonatal Program Effort Index (MNPI) - Philippines. http://www.policyproject.com/pubs/MNPI/Philippines_MNPI.pdf