1. Other than the factors discussed in the lecture, what do you think are other factors affecting maternal mortality rate in the Philippines?
Looking the maternal mortality rate (MMR) from the previous years in the Philippines, we can see its improvement due to its significant drop from the 1990s. Last 2000, the maternal mortality rate was 160 deaths/100,000 live births. Last 2006, the maternal mortality rate is now 156 deaths/100,000 live births. Now, with the latest 2017 data, it reached already 121 deaths/100,000 live births. If we are to analyze the trend from the aforementioned years, the MMR showed steady and continuous dropping of maternal deaths. However, take note that 2017 was the latest data gathered for the MMR. As mentioned in the lecture, MMR is a very sensitive indicator of Philippine's health status. Thus, with the downtrend of the MMR, we can infer that Philippines is slowly adapting or ensuring that all of our health, especially maternal health, are not compromised. Although MMR's downtrend shows a promising sign, it is still far from the Goal 3 of Millennium Development Goal, which is to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 deaths/100,000 live births by 2030. Though, even possible, there are some factors that influence maternal mortality rate in the Philippines.
First one includes the social status. Coming from a poor family or marginalized sector puts the maternal health of women at risk, as they are at a disadvantage. According to Rau (2015), around 75% of the poorest quintile do not have the capacity to have a skilled birth attendant that could help them throughout the course of pregnancy. As poorer as it gets, the harder the maternal health is able to be maintained. According to Rivas (2021), poverty incidence in the Philippines rose from 21.1% (2018) to 23.7% (2021). It also accompanies that the monthly poverty threshold also increased from Php 10,532 (2018) to Php 12,082. The increased amount of monthly poverty threshold portrays the amount of basic needs required to be met. Thus, from the aforementioned data, we can even correlate it to the maternal health, which gets even harder to maintain because of recent high poverty incidence rate.
The second factor would be the rural areas. There is a high maternal mortality rates in these areas because majority of women tend to begin having a children at young age. The latest 2008 PSA data (Take note that this is the most recent source that was searched) shows the mean ideal number of children of rural of about 3.1 compared to urban which is only 2.7. even shows that It also makes healthcare system inaccessible compared to urban areas where medical facilities and infrastructures are mostly found. However, the problem with it is that it is almost anti-poor, compared to rural hospitals. Because of lacking medical facilities and early pregnancy, maternal health is a lot harder to be managed. This in turn, may have a more significant effect towards the women.
Lastly, the low level use of contraceptives also affects the maternal mortality rate. Unfortunately, unwanted pregnancies are prevalent in the Philippines. In fact, the 2003-2008 data (Take note that this is the most recent source that was searched) showed that 37% of births were unplanned, and 16% showed that unwanted pregnancy. From this viewpoint, we can see the prevalence of unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. This can greatly affect the maternal health and eventually, maternal mortality rate, as many women would rather choose to abort the fetus than to take care of it.
2. What are the top 3 causes of maternal mortality ratio in the Philippines? Top 3 maternal morbidity?
Top 3 Maternal Mortality Ratios (2010)
1. Complications related to pregnancy
2. Hypertension complicating pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium
3. Postpartum hemorrhage
Top 3 Maternal Morbidity (2010)
1. Hemorrhage
2. Infection
3. Unsafe Abortion
References:
Deparment of Health. (n.d.). Leading Causes of Morbidity. https://doh.gov.ph/Statistics/Leading-Causes-of-Morbidity
Finer, L.B., & Hussain, R. (2013). Unintended Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion in the Philippines: Context and Consequences.Guttmacher Institute. https://www.guttmacher.org/report/unintended-pregnancy-and-unsafe-abortion-philippines-context-and-consequences
Knoema. (n.d.). Philippines - Maternal Mortality Ratio. Retrieved February 22, 2022, from https://knoema.com/atlas/Philippines/Maternal-mortality-ratio
Philippine Statistics Authority. (2008). One in the Three Births in the Philippines is Unplanned. https://psa.gov.ph/article/one-three-births-philippines-unplanned
Rivas, R. (2021, December 17). Pandemic pushes 26.1 million Filipinos to poverty. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/business/poverty-statistics-philippines-january-june-2021
The World Bank. (2019). Maternal Mortality Ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births). Retrieved February 22, 2022, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.STA.MMRT?locations=PH