Prenatal and Postnatal Interventions and Neonatal Mortality among Adolescent Pregnancies in the Cordillera Administrative Region

ABSTRACT

@#BACKGROUND: Adolescent pregnancy remains a significant public health problem in the Philippines wherein teenage pregnancy has been declared as a National Social Emergency. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to identify the received services and interventions during prenatal and postnatal visits and investigate the relationships between the received services and interventions during visits and the completeness of received services to neonatal death among adolescent pregnancies in the Cordillera Administrative Region. METHODS: This study used a descriptive correlational study design. A survey questionnaire was distributed to target participants among selected municipalities in the Cordillera Administrative Region and asked about the received services/interventions during and after pregnancy. Responses were analyzed using frequency and percentage, Chi-square and Phi Correlation Coefficient. RESULTS: The study showed that a high incidence of neonatal deaths occurs during the first delivery while decreasing prenatal and post-natal visits have been noted. It was also observed that neonatal mortality is high particularly among the category of middle adolescents. The study also demonstrated a significant correlation between Blood Testing and Measurement of the Abdomen or fundal height measurement provided to the respondents and neonatal mortality in the third trimester. However, no significant correlation coefficients have been noted between neonatal mortality and completeness of prenatal and postnatal services. CONCLUSION: Policies and programs on adolescent health development should be enhanced, first, to focus on preventing adolescent pregnancy and repeat pregnancies during the adolescent period, while strengthening the access to health services for all pregnant women, especially adolescent mothers.