Health reform agenda
A descriptive study on the percentage implementation of the health reform agenda of the essential intrapartum and newborn care program in the selected health centers in Cagayan de Oro City.
Essential newborn care knowledge and good practice are critical for a newborn's survival, growth, and development. Despite its importance, most healthcare providers are unaware of and do not adhere to the World Health Organization's guidelines. The ESSENTIAL ITRAPARTUM NEWBORN CARE (EINC) program is billed as a "simple, cost-effective newborn care intervention" that aims to improve neonatal and maternal care. Maternal and newborn deaths can be greatly reduced by modifying delivery procedures.
Giving prompt and adequate assistance for a newborn's health and nutrition is critical in preventing infant problems that can lead to mortality. Many traditional beliefs and practices around infant care should be reviewed to see if they are beneficial or harmful to the baby. Unang Yakap is a simple, evidence-based strategy that may aid in the survival of all newborns and infants. Warmth, breastfeeding, affection, safety, and infection prevention are all included in this category. This approach is now used in hospitals and birthing centers. Prior to giving birth, the mother must give clear instructions that the EINC protocol would be conducted shortly following the delivery. It emphasizes the necessity of delaying bathing and thoroughly drying a baby, establishing early skin-to-skin contact with the mother, initiating early and exclusive breastfeeding, and correctly timed cord clamping. With over 60% of births now being attended by a professional health worker in the Philippines, applying the EINC protocol guarantees that all skilled birth attendants deliver quality and timely treatment, ensuring that all women and infants receive the best possible care during pregnancy and childbirth. Within 24 hours of birth, a newborn baby should have a newborn screening (NBS). NBS is a method of evaluating newborns to see if they have a congenital metabolic disease that could impact their mental abilities, hamper their growth, and, in the worst-case scenario, result in death. It assists health workers in identifying and treating these disorders to avoid negative repercussions that could damage the baby's growth.
Prioritizing a newborn baby's health is critical for their growth and development. The EINC procedures or the Unang Yakap Campaign should be included in a mother's birth plans because they will benefit both the mother and the baby. In addition, newborns should undergo neonatal screening and hearing screening to address and prevent future issues. In a health facility, a baby must get vital newborn care health services, including immunization. To ensure the survival of neonates, proper care and support should be provided. It is important to develop clinical guidelines and standards for addressing the leading causes of neonatal mortality and will cooperate with health professionals (physicians, social workers, nurses, and midwives), as well as other partners and key stakeholders such as nutrition workers, local government units (LGUs) and community-based health, ensuring that all relevant cadres of health service providers are equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills.
