Sinapupunan: a critical analysis of the no home birthing policy in the context of women and traditional birth attendants situated in Brgy. Amaya, Tanza, Cavite

Abstract

The increasing number of maternal deaths in the country led to the implementation of the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health and Nutrition Strategy (MNCHN), or the No Home Birthing Policy, by the Department of Health. It is aimed towards making every delivery facility-based and managed only by doctors, midwives, or nurses. In order to achieve this, DOH called for the prohibition of home births and disenfranchisement of traditional birth attendants or hilots. However, the policy did not improve maternal mortality rates and maternal health but aggravated the condition of women. It continues to threaten more lives of mothers and their children as it fails to address the root cause of why women die in pregnancy, which is the inefficiency of the health system. The continued subscription to home births and hilots is a product of overlapping socioeconomic factors. The experiences of women and trusted TBAs in Barangay, Amaya, Tanza, Cavite revealed common considerations of why home births and hilotassisted births remain prevalent. Through acknowledging these, issues concerning maternal health would be genuinely addressed, appropriate health policies and initiatives would be developed, and consequently, people's right to health would be fully recognized.