Other than the factors discussed in the lecture, what do you think are other factors affecting maternal mortality rate in the Philippines?
In addition to the factors discussed in the lecture, other factors affecting the maternal mortality rate in the Philippines include the following:
- Education Status – Limited educational opportunities and lower levels of education may be associated with adverse social circumstances, including low-income occupations, abusive relationships, and poor housing location and conditions. Additionally, it also affects the health literacy of mothers and compromises their ability to engage with useful health information and services, such as reproductive health information and antenatal care.
- Environmental Factors – Poor living conditions allow for increased exposure to pollution and toxicants that may harm maternal and child health and even cause various diseases or abnormalities. In line with this, living in deprived areas away from necessary healthcare facilities and services presents barriers that discourage or prevent mothers from accessing care and participating in health-promoting behaviors.
- Health Service Factors – Adequate and properly implemented maternal health policies and support functions are essential to the efficient delivery of maternal health services for health promotion, early detection complications, and better provisions for treatment. The mere existence of health services, without regard for quality nor accessibility, will not translate into positive health outcomes.
- Cultural and Traditional Practices – Culture and tradition involving maternal health may be associated with physical activity levels, taboos and rituals, food and dietary requirements, baths, or purification rituals. Among developing countries, early marriage is a traditional practice that affects maternal health outcomes. According to a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative, in the year 2020, 1 out of 6 Filipino girls was married before the age of 18. This practice predisposes adolescent girls with still-developing bodies and their babies to risks for negative health consequences.
What are the top 3 causes of maternal mortality ratio in the Philippines? Top 3 maternal morbidity?
According to the Department of Health, the top 3 causes of maternal mortality ratio in the Philippines in the year 2019 include
- Eclampsia
- Gestational hypertension with significant proteinuria
- Other maternal diseases classifiable elsewhere but complicating pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium.
Meanwhile, the top 3 causes of maternal morbidity in the country include
- Hemorrhage
- Infection
- Unsafe abortion.
References
Jones, G. L., Mitchell, C. A., Hirst, J. E., & Anumba, D. O. C. (2022). Understanding the relationship between social determinants of health and maternal mortality. An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 1-18. https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1471-0528.17044
Lalu, G. P. (2020, July 10). UN experts worry rise of early marriage among girls due to pandemic. Inquirer.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1305204/un-experts-worry-rise-of-early-marriage-among-girls-due-to-pandemic
Maternal and neonatal program effort index: Philippines. (n.d.). http://www.policyproject.com/pubs/MNPI/Philippines_MNPI.pdf
Philippine Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau. (2019). Maternal mortality: By main cause. In The 2019 Philippine health statistics (p. 199). https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/publications/2019PHS_Final_092121.pdf
Siregar, M., Panggabean, H. W. A., Regondola, J. P. B., & Aritonang, S. M. (2021). Traditional beliefs in postpartum care among Indonesian and Filipino mothers: A comparative study. Iberoamerican Journal of Medicine, 3(2021), 241-248. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5036131
World Health Organization. (2019, September 19). Maternal mortality. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality