Maternal and Child Health Overview

MNCHN Overview

• MNCHN stands for Maternal, Newborn, Child Health, and Nutrition; it is essential for assessing healthcare systems.
• Maternal and infant mortality rates indicate the efficacy of healthcare delivery in a country.
• Modern advancements should eliminate preventable deaths associated with pregnancy and delivery.

Philippine Situation

• Approximately 14 million Filipino women aged 15-49 are in the reproductive age group.
• Out of these, 9 million are married or have partners, and 6 million are considered at risk during pregnancy due to:
  • Being too young (under 20 years)
  • Being too old (over 35 years)
  • Having more than four pregnancies or closely spaced pregnancies (less than 15 months apart)
  • Existing health conditions, mainly anemia or being underweight.
• The average fertility rate in the Philippines is 3.7 children per woman, with 2.3 million women expected to become pregnant.

MNCHN Core Package of Services

• Services include pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, delivery, postpartum, newborn care, and child care.
• Essential danger signs during pregnancy include vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, fever, severe headache with visual disturbance (indicative of eclampsia/pre-eclampsia), respiratory distress, severe vomiting, and loss of consciousness/convulsions.

Maternal Care Goals

• Focuses on promoting safe motherhood and women's health, ensuring the health of newborns.
• Hidden suffering from pregnancy and childbirth includes disabilities impacting maternal health, especially in less developed countries.

DOH Maternal Care Package

• Antenatal care involves a minimum of three visits:
  • One in the first trimester, one in the second, and two in the third trimester.
• Essential prenatal check-ups facilitate preparation for pregnancy, early illness detection, and necessary health screenings, including:
  • Urinalysis
  • Hemoglobin/Blood typing
  • Screening for STDs, Hepatitis B, and HIV

Birth Planning

• Birth plans are crafted during prenatal visits and cover preferences for delivery location, attendant, and preparations for emergencies.

Postpartum Period

• Initial assessment occurs 24 hours after delivery; women can be discharged if the delivery was uncomplicated.
• Follow-up visits at one week and one month post-delivery for health checks and vitamin supplementation.
• Essential postpartum care includes counseling for family planning within six weeks.

Newborn Care and Epidemiology

• Minimum health services are crucial for mothers and newborns during and after delivery.
• Lifetime risk of maternal mortality for Filipino women is 1:120, with maternal causes attributing to 14% of deaths in reproductive-age women.
• The Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) showed a slow decline from 209/100,000 live births in 1990 to 162/100,000 in 2006.

Historical Data on Mortality Rates

• Under-Five Mortality Rate (UFMR) decreased from 61/1000 live births in 1990 to 32/1000 in 2006.
• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) reflected a decline from 42% in 1990 to 26% in 2006, highlighting maternal health's importance during pregnancy for newborn survival.

This quiz covers the overview of Maternal, Newborn, Child Health, and Nutrition (MNCHN) in the context of the Philippines. It details the challenges faced by women in reproductive age and the significance of healthcare services in reducing maternal and infant mortality. Assess your understanding of MNCHN's core services and the factors affecting maternal health.