POPCOM: Obstetric deaths increase in first half of 2022

The number of direct obstetric deaths increased in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year, the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) said.

According to Lei Alviz’s “24 Oras” report on Friday, the number of direct obstetric deaths in the country - or deaths of mothers during pregnancy, while in labor, or after giving birth - increased to 468 from January to June 2022 compared to 425 deaths recorded in the same period last year.

This made direct obstetric deaths the 39th leading cause of death in the country. Last year, it was the 44th cause of death.

Meanwhile, newborn deaths became the 17th cause of death from January to June this year.

This was despite the number of newborn deaths decreasing to 3,686 from January to June 2022 compared to 4,424 in the same period last year.

“We don’t have solid evidence pa kasi as for the reason kung bakit tumaas yung mga deaths due to obstetric factors," said POPCOM Officer-in-Charge Lolito Tacardon. "But based on our initial findings before most of them are due to complications in health facilities.”

“It can also be possible na baka delay yung pag-access ng mga services na ito or di kaya di naka-access talaga ng tamang serbisyo at pinanganak lang sa bahay, tinatawag nating mga home deliveries,” he added.

POPCOM said it released the data to guide the public and the health sector.

“It is a reminder sa lahat ng mga nanay, lalo na ang mga buntis ngayon na bigyang seryoso yung pagaccess nila ng pre-natal at post-natal services ng sa ganon maiwasan itong threat ng maternal death,” Tacardon said.

“And another is para malaman na rin ng mga concerned government agencies lalo na sa local level na iintensify natin, we should not be complacent sa mga programa natin for reproductive health at maternal healthcare,” he added. — Richa Allyssa Noriega/DVM, GMA News