In response to Making Pregnancy Safer, what are the current programs in the country to address maternal mortality and morbidity? Cite at least 1.
Motherhood is one of the most fulfilling and joyful moments in life of most women, however complications make this a dreadful experience for more than 20 million pregnancies and childbirth. That is why the World Health Organization created a strategy called Making Pregnancy Safer in order to promote safe motherhood and reduce maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. It aims to strengthen the health systems and formulate actions that ensure the needs of women and their children. In response to this strategy, the Department of Health created programs that would carry out this strategy in the country. One such program of the DOH is the National Safe Motherhood Program. This program aims to provide Filipino women the full access to health services towards making their experience on pregnancy and childbirth safer and more pleasant. This is done by collaborating with the LGUs to establish sustainable and affordable health services to facilitate quality maternal and newborn health services to every woman especially the disadvantaged, and establishing core knowledge and support systems in order to boost national capacity to sustain maternal-newborn services. Currently, they are working on achieving the target outcomes each year for antenatal care visits, facility delivery, skilled health professional assisted delivery and postnatal check-ups.
What can you suggest in order to decrease our maternal mortality and morbidity in the country? Give at least 3 suggestions.
Although declining each year, the Philippines’ current maternal mortality ratio is still at 121 deaths per 100,000 live births which is a long way from goal of 70 deaths per 100,000 live births. This suggests that we need to do more in order to decrease the ratio of maternal deaths per year. The following are three possible ways that could decrease the maternal mortality and morbidity in the country:
1. Prevent unwanted pregnancies – Unsafe abortion is one of the major causes of maternal mortality in the Philippines. We can prevent this by providing family planning services and pregnancy prevention programs to couples, especially to teens and young adults to be able to take the necessary steps in avoiding unplanned pregnancies. Giving access to contraception methods will significantly decrease unwanted pregnancies which would reduce unsafe abortion and complications of pregnancies.
2. Access to high quality care – Ironically, most causes of maternal deaths are preventable if only proper measures were conducted. Severe bleeding can be prevented by immediately injecting oxytocic, infections can be avoided if good hygiene is practiced, pre-eclampsia could be detected early and managed before it proceeds to convulsions and other life threatening complications. Many lives could be saved if mothers are attended by skilled health professionals who practice strict protocols and give attention to care during labor and delivery.
3. Promote a healthy lifestyle – The health of the mother and the developing child is an important determinant in both of their survival, so teaching a pregnant woman to maintain a healthy lifestyle should be done more often. This includes being physically active, choosing what to eat, taking supplements and multivitamins etc. This could reduce a woman’s risk for nutrient deficiencies and exposure to harmful factors.
REFERENCES
Maternal Mortality. (2019, September 19). Retrieved from World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality
National Safe Motherhood Program. (2018, October 17). Retrieved from Department of Health : https://doh.gov.ph/national-safe-motherhood-program
Thomas, A. (2012, March 1). Policy Solutions for Preventing Unplanned Pregnancy. Retrieved from Brookings: https://www.brookings.edu/research/policy-solutions-for-preventing-unplanned-pregnancy/