1. Other than the factors discussed in the lecture, what do you think are other factors affecting maternal mortality rate in the Philippines?
The COVID-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on millions of women, particularly pregnant women, both directly through infection and indirectly as a result of changes in health care, social policy, or socioeconomic situations leading to a higher number of maternal deaths. Aside from the fact that pregnant women appear to be more vulnerable to the disease than non-pregnant women, it has disrupted family planning as well as maternity and newborn health services worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like the Philippines where healthcare systems are weaker. Because health systems are overburdened by the need for a rapid response to COVID-19 patients, resources and attention for women’s health may have been diverted. Most pregnant women also choose to decline or postpone visiting healthcare facilities for antenatal check-ups and deliveries due to service and system interruptions, commuting difficulties, and their fear of testing positive for COVID-19, resulting in a higher maternal mortality rate.
Mental health disorders among pregnant women, such as anxiety and depression, have also increased rapidly in the recent years as well as domestic violence. Furthermore, the country's teenage unintended pregnancy rate has risen drastically, resulting in an increase in the number of young pregnant women undergoing unsafe abortions.
2. What are the top 3 causes of maternal mortality ratio in the Philippines? Top 3 maternal morbidity?
According to the Department of Health's 2019 Philippine Health Statistics, eclampsia is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the country (16%), followed by gestational hypertension with significant proteinuria (14.7%), and other maternal diseases classifiable elsewhere but complicating pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium (10.5%). On the other hand, hemorrhage accounts for 31% of maternal morbidity in the country, followed by infection (19%), and finally unsafe abortion (16%).
References:
Baccay, K. (2022). Prenatal Care and Safe Motherhood Lecture Video PART I. VLE. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SXIWQpPevbtDjGVAOOlWiDtyE9CqJskQ/view
Department of Health. (2019). The 2019 Philippine health statistics. Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau. https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/publications/2019PHS_Final_092121.pdf
Kotlar, B., Gerson, E., Petrillo, S., Langer, A., & Tiemeier, H. (2021). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and perinatal health: a scoping review. Reproductive Health 18, 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01070-6
United Nations Population Fund. (2020, August 14). Significant rise in maternal deaths and unintended pregnancies feared because of COVID-19, UNFPA and UPPI study shows. https://philippines.unfpa.org/en/news/significant-rise-maternal-deaths-and-unintended-pregnancies-feared-because-covid-19-unfpa-and