Making Pregnancy Safer
Answer the following and post your answers here. Cite references of your answers as much as possible.
- In response to Making Pregnancy Safer, what are the current programs in the country to address maternal mortality and morbidity? Cite at least 1.
Enumerated below are some of the existing health programs by the Department of Health to alleviate the burden of maternal morbidity and mortality:
- National Safe Motherhood Program. Launched and developed by the Department of Health, this program is designed to address the health and welfare of women throughout their period of pregnancy. Moreover, the agenda of this initiative also caters to meeting the unmet needs for family planning and contraceptive use of women thereby, aiming to make interventions related to reproductive health more known and available. It aims to improve women’s health and well-being, promote better health outcomes for the mother and the newborn, ensure safe delivery, and secure access to quality healthcare by (1) collaborating with Local Government Units (LGUs) in establishing a sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective approach of delivering quality maternal and newborn health services, and (2) establishing core knowledge base and support systems that facilitate the delivery of quality maternal and newborn health services in the country.
- Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP). Beyond the care provided for the duration of pregnancy, the provision of postpartum care is the focus of the United States Agency International Development’s Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP) in the Philippines. This 21-month program, launched and facilitated in conjunction with the Philippine government, is working towards advocating for family planning, promoting the use of an intrauterine device (IUD), and providing services in underdeveloped areas in the region. Ultimately, it seeks to meet the needs for postpartum care and family planning in the country to create a safe and enabling environment for postpartum mothers and families.
- What can you suggest in order to decrease our maternal mortality and morbidity in the country? Give at least 3 suggestions.
To reduce the rate of maternal mortality and morbidity, the following strategies can be employed in the country:
- Integrate, protect, and strengthen maternal and newborn care. The relationship of health outcomes and quality of life for mother, their newborns and children are inextricably linked. The existence of maternal morbidities, complications, and deaths significantly impact newborn and child wellness, growth, survival, and development. Evidence garnered over the years of medical research and statistical analysis support this. Thus, it is vital for the healthcare infrastructure to develop and integrate maternal-newborn care services and strategies in conjunction with the other as the survival and health of one greatly affects the other’s. Moreover, such method of care enhances newborn care, promotes positive health outcomes for both parties, supports mother-baby relationship, and facilitates higher efficiency for the health system. Maternal and newborn care should be delivered and provisioned together without compromising quality of care for either.
- Educating women, men, and families about pregnancy, family planning, and contraceptive use. Regardless of gender, women and men should be aware and knowledgeable of concepts and services on pregnancy, family planning, and contraceptive use. After all, both parties are involved in the decision-making process of creating life and family formation. Health teaching should be advocated as low levels of maternal education shares great association to higher maternal death and morbidity. Every couple at the reproductive age must also be encouraged to learn about family planning to guide their health-related decisions and in identifying what they seek and want as a couple planning to have a family of their own. Poor home setting, domestic abuse, and abandonment can lead to trauma for the children, and inability to provide adequate resources for the mother and the newborn. Contraceptive use should be talked more openly, without societal bias coming into play. It is part of reproductive health and should be treated and made available as an integral part of the healthcare delivery system.
- Empower women and attain gender equality. To prioritize the health and survival of women and girls, it is pertinent and crucial that their high value and contribution to society is acknowledged and strengthened. Through gender equality and empowerment, enabling of strategies that facilitate a women’s capacity to care for and choose for themselves is encompassed and promoted, including women’s autonomy over their own reproductive choices and health-related decisions, access to healthcare services and options, and the capacity to have a voice and change existing systems through participation. It is also important to achieve substantive equality that improves and addresses social determinants of health, gender discrimination, economic inequality, and workplace favoritism, to secure equal rights and outcomes for women and girls.
- Strengthen health systems to respond to the needs and priorities of women and girls. The health system involves two components: the ‘hardware’ which includes essential health infrastructure, resources, commodities, and facilities; and the ‘software’ that is encompassed by organization and management of service delivery, transparency and accountability within the health sector, mechanisms for community participation, and upholding respectful care norms and values. Expanding health promotion and preventive services and integrating frameworks for the care of women, newborns, and adolescents. Seamless and fast coordination between rural health units and regional healthcare facilities is necessary to enhance healthcare delivery. Moreover, the health workforce should be skilled and trained, respectful and accommodating of the needs of women and girls. Increased cooperation and support from the government in policymaking and budget allocation should also be observed to further strengthen the health system in the country to ensure better health outcomes across all levels and genders.
References
Department of Health. (2018). National Safe Motherhood Program. https://doh.gov.ph/national-safe-motherhood-program
World Health Organization (2015, February). Strategies toward ending preventable maternal mortality (EPMM) [PDF]. WHO. https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/maternal_perinatal/epmm/en/
Nyflot, L. & Sitras, V. (2018). Strategies to reduce global maternal mortality. 2018 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 97, 639–640. DOI: 10.1111/aogs.13356
U.S. Agency for International Development. (2015). Maternal and child health integrated program (MCHIP) - Philippines. https://www.usaid.gov/philippines/health/mchip