Other than the factors discussed in the lecture, what do you think are other factors affecting maternal mortality rate in the Philippines?
- Lack of access to safe and non-traumatic labor and delivery: Our lack of accessible and affordable healthcare facilities and services, especially in rural or poverty-stricken areas, disable expecting mothers to acquire safe and non-traumatic labor and delivery.
- Culture and tradition: Since most of the people in rural areas, especially cultural groups, still acquire only the help of traditional birthing attendants, culture and tradition then take part in the failure of seeking safe and non-traumatic labor and delivery care.
- Teenage pregnancy: We are aware of how prevalent teenage pregnancy is in the Philippines. I believe this causes maternal mortality since teenagers’ bodies are still growing and are not developed enough for childbirth. Hence, they are most unlikely to support another growing individual, which then harms both the mother and the baby.
- Limited access to contraceptives: This leads to many cases of unwanted pregnancies, which may cause pregnant women to turn to unsafe abortion or practices that will result in unhealthy pregnancy.
What are the top 3 causes of maternal mortality ratio in the Philippines? Top 3 maternal morbidity?
According to Department of Health, the leading causes of registered maternal deaths in 2018 are:
- Eclampsia (17.6%)
- Gestational [pregnancy-induced] hypertension with significant proteinuria (12.3%)
- Other maternal diseases classifiable elsewhere but complicating pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium (10.7%)
The leading causes of maternal morbidity, on the other hand, are:
- Hemorrhage (31%)
- Infection (19%)
- Unsafe abortion (16%)
References
Access to Safe Labor and Delivery. (n.d.). Retrieved from HerDignity Network: https://www.herdignity.net/motherhood/access-to-safe-labor-and-delivery/#:~:text=Access%20to%20Safe%20Labor%20and%20Delivery%20In%20rural,take%20advantage%20of%20the%20resources%20that%20are%20present.
Baccay, K. (2022). Lecture Slides on Prenatal Care. Retrieved from VLE.
Epidemiology Bureau, Department of Health. (2018). The 2018 Philippine Health Statistics. Retrieved from: https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/publications/2018%20Philippine%20Health%20Statistics.pdf.
Rau, A. (2015). Maternal Mortality in the Philippines. Retrieved from The Borgen Project: https://borgenproject.org/maternal-mortality-philippines/#:~:text=Various%20factors%20are%20responsible%20for%20the%20high%20rate,during%20pregnancy%20and%20complications%20associated%20with%20unsafe%20abortions.
Teenage Pregnancy. (2021). Retrieved from Medline Plus: https://medlineplus.gov/teenagepregnancy.html.