Answer the following and post your answers here. Cite references of your answers as much as possible.
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In response to Making Pregnancy Safer, what are the current programs in the country to address maternal mortality and morbidity? Cite at least 1.
The National Safe Motherhood Program centers on the health and welfare of women during the whole duration of her pregnancy. With the objective of the Department of Health (DOH) to deliver quality maternal and newborn health services while utilizing proven and innovative treatments, the goal of this program is to provide quality healthcare to Filipino women so that they can have a safer pregnancy and delivery. Hence, it focuses on promoting the health and well-being of every Filipino mother. The priority agenda includes pregnant adolescents and women’s unmet needs for family planning contraceptives until 2030.
Over the past decades, the rate of maternal and newborn mortality has accelerated. This compromises the commitment of the Philippines to the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) No. 5 - To Improve Maternal Health. MDG No. 5 aims to reduce the maternal mortality ratio by 75% and achieve universal access to reproductive health. As a response to this, the DOH issued the Administrative Order 2008-0029 entitled “Implementing Health Reforms for Rapid Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality” (DOH, 2011). This policy, associated with the National Safe Motherhood Program, outlines a strategy for rapidly lowering maternal and neonatal fatalities by providing MNCHN (Maternal, Newborn, Child Health, and Nutrition) services. A manual of operations was given to guide the local government units (LGU) in their approach to deliver the said services.
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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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Addressing the social determinants of health. Behavior in health care is often rooted upon an individual's social and economic status. Given the increasing costs of health services, more low to middle-income Filipinos would continue their habits of avoiding hospital care. The government should focus on implementing more laws and policies that would not only focus on improving maternal care but also provide assistance to those in need. This is not only for the betterment of maternal health but also the reduction of health disparities.
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Giving proper sexuality and reproductive health education. Literacy in sexuality and reproductive health results in making informed decisions regarding an individual’s health while empowering them to claim their rights in health care. Moreover, it is also a prevention of various risk factors and behaviors.
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Improving accessibility to maternal care. One factor behind the high maternal mortality and morbidity is the inaccessibility to maternal and child services especially in remote areas of provinces in our country. It is important for the government to strengthen its ties and offer more support to its local government partners especially in domestic health fundings. This could open doors to the establishment of local clinics or hospitals so that people in rural communities can receive quality maternal care.
References:
DOH (2011). MNCHN Strategy Manual of Operations.https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/publications/MNCHNMOPMay4withECJ.pdf