- In response to Making Pregnancy Safer, what are the current programs in the country to address maternal mortality and morbidity? Cite at least 1.
The Safe Motherhood Program aims to provide for Filipino women full access to health services to make pregnancy and childbirth safer providing maternity and newborn care benefit package, training in basic emergency obstetric and newborn care for health professionals, and implementation of support materials such as Pregnancy, Childbirth, Postpartum and Newborn Care (PCPNC) Manual. With this program, it aims to make it such that every pregnancy is wanted, planned and supported, adequately managed throughout its course, delivery is facility-based and managed by skilled birth attendants, and every mother and newborn secures proper care through Health Service Delivery, Health Regulation, Health Financing, and Governance for Health. - What can you suggest in order to decrease our maternal mortality and morbidity in the country? Give at least 3 suggestions.
Maternal morbidity and mortality are majorly due to lack of care received in part due to insufficient information received prior to becoming pregnant, most of the time leaving the information gathering to the individuals of varying capabilities to obtain reliable sources of information. Proper health education for all individuals and available services are necessary to educate the general public on how to deal with such situations, but also the breaking down of sociocultural norms that looks down on the topic of sex as this results in adolescents and young adults being ashamed from society in cases of being pregnant leading them to delay health seeking activities. Along with the two mentioned, adequate government support and health insurance for pregnant mothers and mothers and their newborn is necessary as despite being able to receive proper health care and support in the immediate delivery of the infant, families can find it difficult to support themselves and a rapidly growing child without governmental financial support.
References:
Administrative Order No. 0029 (2008, September 9). Implementing Health Reforms for Rapid Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality. Retrieved from https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/health_programs/Administrative%20Order%20No.%202008-0029%20%28Implementing%20Health%20Reforms%20for%20Rapid%20Reduction%20of%20Maternal%20and%20Neonatal%20Mortality%29.PDF
Maternal morbidity and mortality are majorly due to lack of care received in part due to insufficient information received prior to becoming pregnant, most of the time leaving the information gathering to the individuals of varying capabilities to obtain reliable sources of information. Proper health education for all individuals and available services are necessary to educate the general public on how to deal with such situations, but also the breaking down of sociocultural norms that looks down on the topic of sex as this results in adolescents and young adults being ashamed from society in cases of being pregnant leading them to delay health seeking activities. Along with the two mentioned, adequate government support and health insurance for pregnant mothers and mothers and their newborn is necessary as despite being able to receive proper health care and support in the immediate delivery of the infant, families can find it difficult to support themselves and a rapidly growing child without governmental financial support.
References: Administrative Oorder No. 0029 (2008, September 9). Implementing Health Reforms for Rapid Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality. Retrieved from https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/health_programs/Administrative%20Order%20No.%202008-0029%20%28Implementing%20Health%20Reforms%20for%20Rapid%20Reduction%20of%20Maternal%20and%20Neonatal%20Mortality%29.PDF