1. In response to Making Pregnancy Safer, what are the current programs in the country to address maternal mortality and morbidity? Cite at least 1.
In response to the World Health Organization’s initiative (2004) towards safer pregnancy, our national health department (Department of Health, n.d.a, n.d.b) implemented programs such as “Safe Motherhood Program” and “Family Planning Program”. The first program focuses on providing accessible care for pregnant women through PhilHealth maternity and newborn care benefits and capacity building for midwives, nurses, and doctors. The other program promotes the reproductive health and rights of Filipino women and men by providing free or low-cost family planning supplies, integrating family planning services in hospital and other health facilities, and enhancing financial affordability or security for the clients.
2. What can you suggest in order to decrease our maternal mortality and morbidity in the country? Give at least 3 suggestions.
Decreasing maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the Philippines necessitates coordinated health systems, informed stakeholders, and competent care providers. Here are some evidence-based suggestions to improve maternal health care in the country:
- The need for a strengthened health system cannot be overemphasized. There should be organized and relatively consistent guidelines and protocol, as well as enhanced data management. This will facilitate more responsive care through timely and efficient referral process (Cagayan et al., 2020). Furthermore, institutional measures ensuring acceptable work environment for our nurses and other health professionals are also necessary to build strong health workforce and address understaffing-related disservice (Labrague et al., 2020).
- More efforts on health education are also important. For example, effective communication of available family planning methods and other community health resources (such as PhilHealth benefits for maternity and newborn care) can help clients make health-promoting decisions in terms of maternal and reproductive health (Melgar et al., 2018; Reyes et al., 2020).
- It is also necessary that the midwives, nurses, and doctors who primarily provide maternal health care are regularly updated and trained on evidence-based practice. For instance, there may be a need to train health workers further on partograph use and essential intrapartum and newborn care (EINC) to enhance basic and emergency interventions (Cagayan et al., 2022).
References:
Cagayan, M. S. F., Ang-Bon, R. M., Garcia, F., San Juan, F., Llave, C., Banwell, C., & Llamas-Clark, E. (2020). Barriers to an effective maternal health service delivery network: A qualitative study among health providers in Legazpi City, Albay. Acta Medica Philippina, 54(5). https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.v54i5.664
Cagayan, M. S. F. S., Ang-Bon, R. M., Garcia Jr, F. B., San Juan, F. S., Llave, C. L., Banwell, C., & Llamas-Clark, E. F. (2022). The effect of a two-day training and refresher program on the basic emergency obstetric and newborn care knowledge and skills of health workers in Legazpi City, Albay. Acta Medica Philippina, 56(3). https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.vi0.3151
Department of Health. (n.d.a). National family planning program. https://doh.gov.ph/family-planning
Department of Health. (n.d.b). Safe motherhood program. https://doh.gov.ph/health-programs/safe-motherhood-program
Labrague, L. J., De Los Santos, J. A. A., Falguera, C. C., Nwafor, C. E., Galabay, J. R., Rosales, R. A., & Firmo, C. N. (2020). Predictors of nurses’ turnover intention at one and five years’ time. International Nursing Review, 67(2), 191-198. doi: 10.1111/inr.12581
Melgar, J. L., Melgar, A. R., Festin, M. P. R., Hoopes, A. J., & Chandra-Mouli, V. (2018). Assessment of country policies affecting reproductive health for adolescents in the Philippines. Reproductive Health, 15(1), 1-13. doi: 10.1186/s12978-018-0638-9
Reyes, K. A. V., Verdolaga, R. M. C., Cloma-Rosales, V., Yason-Remonte, M. A., Silvestre, M. A. A., & Castillo, M. (2020). Utilization of social health insurance for maternal health services in the Philippines. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, 51, 108-125. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.28201.11362
World Health Organization. (2004). Making pregnancy safer: The critical role of the skilled attendant. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9241591692