Improved Rate of Maternal Deaths in Davao del Norte

Improved Rate of Maternal Deaths in Davao del Norte

In Davao del Norte, the number of maternal deaths has declined significantly over the past four years. According to Dr. Josephine Parrenas, the provincial health officer, the province recorded 12 maternal deaths in 2020, a figure that dropped to six in 2024.

Parrenas noted a downward trend in maternal deaths, attributing the decline to the effective implementation of maternal health interventions. She highlighted key indicators such as an increase in Antenatal Care (ANC) coverage, Facility-Based Deliveries (FBD), postnatal care coverage, and the number of births attended by Skilled Health Professionals (SHP). Moreover, the province has made strides in reducing the unmet need for Family Planning (FP).

The reduction in maternal deaths aligns with the national goal of decreasing maternal mortality from 90 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022 to 70 by 2030. However, infant mortality rates have fluctuated, with a peak in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the rate has since decreased and remains below the national target of 15.

Parrenas credited the province's health referral system, quarterly maternal death reviews with OB-GYN consultants from Davao Regional Medical Center and Southern Philippines Medical Center, and other key interventions for the reduction in maternal and infant mortality. These include bi-annual consultative meetings with private and public birthing facilities, barangay-based maternal health forums, social media campaigns, and welfare goods provision to encourage ANC visits.

The Davao del Norte Provincial Health Office, in collaboration with national and regional health departments, is likely implementing a combination of recognized strategies to address maternal and infant health, such as increased access to prenatal and postnatal care, skilled birth attendants, maternal and child health information dissemination, Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) facilities, PhilHealth coverage expansion, Barangay Health Worker (BHW) training, focused ANC training for health workers, and the provision of essential medicines and logistics.

Despite the progress, further efforts are necessary to ensure sustained improvement in maternal and infant health outcomes in Davao del Norte. Official reports from the Davao del Norte Provincial Health Office or Department of Health would provide definitive, localized intervention details.

1. The Davao del Norte Provincial Health Office, in their quest for improved health-and-wellness, is likely advocating for science-backed health interventions to combat COVID-19, alongside their existing strategies that have led to a significant decrease in maternal deaths.
2. To maintain the downward trend in maternal deaths and address the recent infant mortality surge due to COVID-19, the health authorities in Davao are considering the expansion of their health-and-wellness initiatives to include fitness-and-exercise programs and stress management techniques, often effective in boosting immunity.
3. In the post-COVID-19 era, the Davao del Norte Provincial Health Office plans to collaborate with local science institutions to develop and implement health interventions that cater to Philippine-specific health concerns, ensuring the province's progress in maternal health continues and ideally, sets a benchmark for other regions to follow within the health-and-wellness sector.

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