Maternal Profile, Awareness and Utilization of Basic Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care (BEmONC) in a Rural Municipality in Iloilo, Philippines

This descriptive correlational study was conducted to determine the maternal profile, awareness and utilization of Basic Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care (BEmONC) among women of reproductive age (WRA) in a rural municipality in Iloilo. The 346 respondents were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Data were gathered using a structured interview schedule prepared and validated prior to the actual data collection. For univariate, frequency, percentage, and mean were utilized to describe the data while Chi- square, Gamma, and Cramer’s V were used to analyze and determine relationships between variables. The results revealed that most of the respondents were highly aware of the Rural Health Unit (RHU) as a BEmONC facility and its services. However, most of them have utilized only the prenatal package but not the childbirth and postnatal services. Hypothesis testing found a significant relationship between utilization of BEmONC services and employment status, income level, educational status, OB score, pregnancy status and awareness of BEmONC services. Increasing awareness about maternal and child health care and facility-based services and educating women planning for safe childbirth to deliver in a BEmONC facility that is attended by a skilled medical health professional are essential for the survival of the mother and the newborn.

Keywords – BEmONC, Maternal health, Awareness of maternal health services, Utilization of maternal health services