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[av_heading heading=’ Aklan maternal deaths down 60%’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY BOY RYAN ZABAL
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Friday, March 24, 2017
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KALIBO, Aklan – Maternal deaths in the province dropped 60 percent, according to the Provincial Health Office (PHO).
Maternal mortality refers to the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy.
From 15 cases in 2015, the number lowered to six in 2016, data from the PHO showed.
Mortality rate among mothers also went down to 62 per 100,000 live births from 136 per 100,000 live births, said Dr. Cornelio Cuachon Jr., provincial health officer.
Among those recorded in 2015 were mothers aged 19 and 16 who died of pregnancy complications, Cuachon said.
More than 10 mothers in the Philippines die due to pregnancy every day, according to the United Nations Population Fund.
Worldwide, 830 women die every day of preventable diseases related to childbirth and pregnancy, infections, hypertensive disorders, severe bleeding, and complications from delivery and unsafe abortion.
“Deaths from maternal pregnancy could be prevented if mothers had access to health facilities and adequate family planning service including prenatal care,” Cuachon said.
Among the causes of maternal mortality are delay in seeking care, delay in arrival at a health facility, and delay in the provision of health care to respond to the mother’s needs during and after pregnancy.
Moreover Aklan has the highest number of teenaged mothers among the six provinces in Western Visayas. It had 1,566 in 2015.
“It is a big challenge for maternal health and adolescent programs of the PHO and local health units to address teenage pregnancy,” Cuachon said. (With Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
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