Other than the factors discussed in the lecture, what do you think are other factors affecting maternal mortality rate in the Philippines?
One of the problems that continue to manifest in the Philippines is the high rate of teenage pregnancy. According to Rau (2015), there is a high incidence of pregnancy among women of young age, especially in rural areas, leading to higher maternal mortality rates. Pregnant teenagers are at a higher risk of experiencing complications and health problems during and after pregnancy since their bodies are normally not mature enough for childbirth. Unintended pregnancy among teenagers can lead to poor health outcomes since they may lack knowledge on nutrition, their bodies may compete with fetuses for nutrition, and they may not be psychologically ready to breastfeed babies after childbirth (Pelegrino, 2021). This, together with the lack of skilled attendants in rural areas, results in a high maternal mortality rate.
Culture may also be one of the factors that affect the maternal mortality rate in the Philippines. Most Filipinos are Roman Catholics. The use of contraceptives and the legalization of abortion still remain taboo in the country. The lack of discussion on family planning and access to contraceptives can lead to higher incidences of unplanned pregnancies. According to Rau (2015), in 2006, half of the three million pregnancies in the Philippines were unplanned. Consequentially, one-third of those have resulted in abortion. The lack of access to contraceptives and the stigmatization of sex education may also be related to the aforementioned high teenage pregnancy rates.
Social inequalities also affect the maternal mortality rate in the Philippines. According to Paredes (2016), those who have higher household incomes have better access to health services. Maternal education also affects the utilization of maternal and child healthcare. Women who have higher educational achievement tend to use more antenatal care services and facility-based deliveries than those who received little to no education (Paredes, 2016).
What are the top 3 causes of maternal mortality ratio in the Philippines? Top 3 maternal morbidity?
Based on the data gathered by the Department of Health in 2010, the top 3 causes of maternal mortality in the Philippines are (1) complications related to pregnancy occurring in the course of labor, delivery, and puerperium, (2) pregnancy-related hypertension, and (3) postpartum hemorrhage. Meanwhile, the top 3 causes of maternal morbidity are (1) hemorrhage, (2) infection, and (3) unsafe abortion.
References
Department of Health. (2013). Maternal deaths by main cause.
https://doh.gov.ph/Statistics/Maternal-Deaths-By-Main-Cause
Paredes, K. P. (2016). Inequality in the use of maternal and Child Health Services in the Philippines: Do pro-poor health policies result in more equitable use of services? International Journal for Equity in Health, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-016-0473-y
Pelegrino, E. N. (2021, March 21). Negative impacts of teenage pregnancy in the Philippines. National Nutrition Council. https://nnc.gov.ph/regional-offices/mindanao/region-ix-zamboanga-peninsula/4931-negative-impacts-of-teenage-pregnancy-in-the-philippines
Rau, A. (2015, June 18). Maternal mortality in the Philippines. The Borgen Project. https://borgenproject.org/maternal-mortality-philippines/