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Other than the factors discussed in the lecture, what do you think are other factors affecting maternal mortality rate in the Philippines?
Aside from the factors mentioned in the lecture, there are other factors that affect the maternal mortality rate in the Philippines that should be considered. These are:
(1) Poor access to health care services
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It is very rampant in social news that there is a budget cut on the funds for health. This may hinder the provision of quality services to pregnant women by not having quality equipment that would ensure the status of the prenatal period. Also, their geographic location can impede their eagerness to seek medical care. There are shreds of evidence showing that pregnant women are reluctant to seek a health facility due to a long waiting time. Because of the decrease in budget, health care facilities do not have enough workers to attend to the pregnant mother's needs at a particular time. Some facilities lack the supplies needed to facilitate pregnancy care (Dahab et al., 2020).
(2)Poverty
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According to Jeong et al. (2020), socioeconomic status is one risk factor for maternal mortality. Poverty has been a factor in maternal morbidity in such a way that some women experience poor birthing practices. Some of them had home births without a skilled birth attendant and lacked enough care from a professional. Furthermore, they can have inadequate nutrient supplementation and food sources, and medication and maternal health facilities access. An article from Hindawi (n.d) stated that nutrient deficiencies could affect the child's development and the health of the maternal mother.
(3) Culture and beliefs
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This factor should be considered and respected. It affects the women's preferences in seeking medical advice, antecare visits, and how they would give birth. Some of this may break asepsis control, food choices, and decision-making that could harm pregnant women.
(4) Use of contraceptives
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According to Nagai et al. (2019), women who do not use contraceptives but rather use traditional methods are at higher risk of pregnancies. An article from the Maternal health task force (2022) discussed that access to contraceptives could help to avoid unwanted pregnancies and, at the same time, unsafe abortion. Family planning services should be easily accessible to meet the woman's needs throughout the pregnancy journey.
(5) Teenage Pregnancy
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This major contributor to maternal mortality gives pregnancy complications that could lead to death. For the reason that the bodies are mostly immature, some risks put both the mother and the baby. Furthermore, there are more likely to engage in unsafe abortion that can cause infection, or worse, death.
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What are the top 3 causes of maternal mortality ratio in the Philippines? Top 3 maternal morbidity?
The top 3 causes of maternal mortality, according to DOH, are complications during labor, delivery, puerperium, pregnancy-related hypertension, and postpartum hemorrhage. Given the data, it is very concerning that maternal health should be improved and be given importance. World Health Organization (n.d) determines that excessive blood loss, infection, high blood pressure, unsafe abortion, and obstructed labor, together with anemia, malaria, and heart disease, that indirectly affect maternal injury, are the most common causes of maternal morbidity.
References:
Dahab, R., & Sakellariou, D. (2020). Barriers to Accessing Maternal Care in Low Income Countries in Africa: A Systematic Review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(12), 4292. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124292
Department of Health. (2013, December 9). Maternal Deaths By Main Cause. Department of Health website. Retrieved February 15, 2022, from https://doh.gov.ph/Statistics/Maternal-Deaths-By-Main-Cause
Family Planning and Maternal Health – Maternal Health Task Force. (n.d.). Maternal Health Task Force. Retrieved February 15, 2022, from https://www.mhtf.org/topics/family-planning-maternal-health/
Jeong, W., Jang, S. I., Park, E. C., & Nam, J. Y. (2020). The Effect of Socioeconomic Status on All-Cause Maternal Mortality: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(12), 4606. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124606
Nagai, M., Bellizi, S., Murray, J., Kitong, J., Cabral, E. I., & Sobel, H. L. (2019, July 25). Opportunities lost: Barriers to increasing the use of effective contraception in the Philippines. PLOS. Retrieved February 15, 2022, from https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0218187
Noren, A. (n.d.). Maternal Morbidity and Mortality. Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health in the Philippines. Retrieved February 15, 2022, from http://philippineshealthdata.blogs.wm.edu/sample-page/maternal-morbidity-and-mortality/
Preconception Care: A New Standard of Care within Maternal Health Services. (n.d.). Hindawi. Retrieved February 14, 2022, from https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2016/6150976/
Teenage pregnancy. (n.d.). Plan International. Retrieved February 15, 2022, from https://plan-international.org/sexual-health/teenage-pregnancy
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Maternal health. WHO | World Health Organization. Retrieved February 15, 2022, from https://www.who.int/health-topics/maternal-health#tab=tab_1