Oro 2nd in R-10 in maternal deaths

Cagayan de Oro City is 2nd in Region 10 with the most number of maternal deaths, according to a survey by the Commission on Population-Region 10 (POPCOM-10).

The POPCOM-10 survey, conducted between 2014-2015, places Cagayan de Oro City second to Bukidnon with the most number of maternal deaths.

By 2015, Cagayan de Oro had a increase in Maternal Morality Rate (MMR) from 103.03% in 2014 to 105.14% in 2015. This means that the number of women who died while pregnant or giving birth increased for the city.

From a total of 19 deaths in 2014, the number rose to 21 in 2015. Bukidnon had a decrease of maternal deaths from 32 in 2014 to only 30 in the succeeding year. Iligan City followed Cagayan de Oro in the ranking with 10 maternal deaths in 2014 and then with a total of 11 in 2015.

According to POPCOM-10 regional director Jeremias Gupit, there are various reasons for the maternal deaths, all of which need to be given ample attention by the local government.

One of the leading reasons why so many mothers die is the delay in seeking medical attention due to personal and societal reasons.

“It may be because she already had a lot of children to take care of in the home or that she wasn’t aware of the risks of not getting proper contraception. It may also be because of the negative stigma given to young mothers and that is why so many young mothers try to hide that they are in fact pregnant,” he said.

Support fron the family and community is then very much needed to save the pregnant women in the region from complications, he added. Family planning is then seen as the best solution to the growing problem of maternal deaths and even overpopulation and poverty in the region.

“Family planning through counseling in home visits is being done by 1,042 barangay population volunteers in the region. So far, there are 12, 436 couples who received information on family planning. Out of the 3, 219 unmet need, 2,214 were served with the contraceptive method they prefer,” Gupit said

POPCOM-10 and the Regional Department of Health (DOH-X) is marking the Family Planning Month with the focus on granting accessible community family planning methods in the region.