- Other than the factors discussed in the lecture, what do you think are other factors affecting maternal mortality rate in the Philippines?
As the COVID pandemic ceased most operations and accessibility to health facilities due to fear of contracting the virus, it has indirectly and directly affected the mortality rate in the Philippines. According to the UNFPA Philippines, a study led by Prof. Marquez of the University of the Philippines Population Institute, had preliminary results that show that the pre-existing underlying vulnerabilities of women and girls are worsening because of the indirect effects of the pandemic. It was predicted that maternal mortality can increase up to 26% in the duration of the pandemic due to decreasing utilization of facilities for antenatal checkup and delivery as well as to access to modern contraception.
Aside from the aforementioned reasons, intimate partner violence can also be a factor to increasing mortality rates. IPV was estimated to increased by 16% by the end of 2020 (Gonzales, 2020). IPV may contribute to poor maternal and neonatal outcomes as this increase the risk for spontaneous abortion, fetal loss, PTB, LBW, and neonatal death as a direct result of blunt physical trauma to the mother (Alhusen et al., 2015). A disrupted relationship between the mother and her partner may likely result to poor coping mechanisms and risky health behaviors which can affect both maternal and fetal health.
- What are the top 3 causes of maternal mortality ratio in the Philippines? Top 3 maternal morbidity?
At 2017, the top three leading causes of maternal mortality are eclampsia, gestational hypertension with significant proteinuria and abnormality of forces of labor while the top three causes of maternal morbidity are ischemic heart diseases, neoplasms and cerebrovascular diseases (Mapa, 2020).
References:
Alhusen, J. L., Ray, E., Sharps, P., & Bullock, L. (2015). Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy: Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes. Journal of Women’s Health, 24(1), 100–106. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2014.4872
Gonzales, G. (2020). Violence against women and girls: A pandemic we must end now. Philippines. https://philippines.un.org/en/105122-violence-against-women-and-girls-pandemic-we-must-end-now
Mapa, D. (2020). Causes of Deaths in the Philippines (Preliminary): January to December 2020 | Philippine Statistics Authority. Psa.gov.ph. https://psa.gov.ph/content/causes-deaths-philippines-preliminary-january-december-2020
Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) | Philippine Statistics Authority. (2013). Psa.gov.ph. https://psa.gov.ph/content/maternal-mortality-ratio-mmr-2
Regala, A. (2020, August 15). Significant rise in maternal deaths and unintended pregnancies feared because of COVID-19, UNFPA and UPPI study shows. UNFPA Philippines. https://philippines.unfpa.org/en/news/significant-rise-maternal-deaths-and-unintended-pregnancies-feared-because-covid-19-unfpa-and