The Philippines has a population
of 108,686,280 as of April 2020

56.81

Maternal Mortality
per 100,000 live births

21 Deaths

of 41 cases of
Neonatal Tetanus as of
August 2019

1:229,306

Access to government
hospital

“Breastfeeding is the best gift a mother, rich or poor, can give her child, as well as herself.” – Shahida Azfar, UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director

Infant & Maternal Health Care

Our primary program

In 2013, although the infant mortality rate slightly increased, the number of registered infant deaths slightly decreased by more than one percent, from last year’s 22,254 cases to 21,992 cases. It comprised of 4.1 percent of the total deaths (531,280) reported during the year. This represented a daily average of 60 infant deaths and was equivalent to an Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of 12.5 deaths per thousand live births. The top three leading causes of infant mortality were Pneumonia (3,146; 14.3%); Bacterial sepsis of newborn (2,731; 12.4%); and Respiratory distress of newborn (2,347; 10.7%). The listed top ten leading causes of infant mortality in 2013 were the same with what was recorded in 2012 which only differ in ranks.

Maternal Health Care – Key Findings

Antenatal care: 94% of women age 15-49 with a live birth in the 5 years preceding the survey received antenatal care (ANC) from a skilled provider for their most recent birth. Eighty-seven percent of women had four or more ANC visits for their most recent birth; 71% had their first ANC visit during the first trimester.
Institutional deliveries: 78%of births in the 5 years preceding the survey were delivered in a health facility. Institutional deliveries decrease as birth order increases, from 86% for first births to 53% for sixth-or higher-order births.
Skilled assistance during delivery: 84% of births in the 5 years preceding the survey were delivered by a skilled provider.
Caesarean delivery: Overall, 13% of births in the 5 years preceding the survey were delivered by Caesarean section. Caesarean deliveries are more common in private facilities (24%of deliveries) than public facilities (13%of deliveries).
Postnatal care: Among women age 15-49 who gave birth in the 2 years preceding the survey, 86% had a postnatal check during the first 2 days after their most recent birth. Similarly, 86% of newborns had a postnatal check during the first 2 days after birth.
Problems in accessing health care: The most commonly reported problem in accessing health care among women age 15-49 is getting money for treatment (45%).

Source of information : Philippine Statistics Office

What We Plan to Do

Training Courses:
– Basic Newborn Care
– Thermal Protection
– Infection Control
– Neonatal Jaundice
– Neonatal Respiratory Care
– Kangaroo Care

Objective Trainees will be:
1. Be able to train their colleagues, upon return to their hospitals.
2. Be able to communicate with parents.
3. Understand the key principles of developmental care of the preterm infant.
4. Be able to explain why they have received this training and the importance of their role in disseminating the information and skills and/or using the information and skills to improve standard of care on their unit.
5. Receive a complete package of training materials at a relevant level of detail and in an appropriate language.
6. Be able to use the provided SV training materials to train their colleagues.
7. Know how to contact a SV/MTTS Ent. staff member, or someone who can assist them further, if needed.

In developing countries, health institutions’ requirements for medical equipment donation are significant. These donations are planned and properly coordinated with the government authorities and should be based on the following to become a recipient of the donation:

Needs assessment
High impact
Capacity to maintain the troubleshoot donated equipment

The health institution’s technical department will be fully trained and will be provided with all the necessary information to fully maintain the donated equipment.

Spiritus Vitae will regularly conduct and survey all donated medical equipment’s performance and monitor its use and inventory every month.

**Promoting Care for the Newborn at Home**

A newborn is defined as a baby within the first twenty-eight days of life. This period is a time during which the infant is highly vulnerable. In developing countries, about 50% of newborns and their mothers do not receive skilled care during and immediately after delivery, resulting in high neonatal morbidity and mortality rates.

Up to two thirds of deaths among newborns in developing countries can be prevented by simple but effective health measures. These can be provided during and immediately after birth to enhance the capacity for the needed physiological adjustments the baby must undergo in extra-uterine life. The mother and family should be counseled/educated on the following prior to leaving the hospital and/or within the first days of the newborns life.

Early and Exclusive Breastfeeding
Umbilical Cord Care
Skin Care
Kangaroo Care within First Hour of Life
SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) Prevention
Preventive treatment
Danger signs (when to re-present to hospital)

The Philippines has a population of 108,686,280 as of April 2020

18.815%