Acma-Lozarito, C. T. (2013). Local interventions to improve maternal and neonatal health in the Municipality of Kinoguitan, Misamis Oriental (Unpublished master's thesis). Graduate School of Public and Development Management, Development Academy of the Philippines.

Graduate School of Public and Development Management Health Systems and Development Batch 3 Thesis (MPM-HSD)--Development Academy of the Philippines.

Kinoguitan is a fifth class municipality in the province of Misamis Oriental. It is one of the municipalities in the province with poor maternal and neonatal health indicators. The latest data revealed that, as of October 2013, its maternal mortality ratio (MMR) has reached 939 per 100,000 live births and a neonatal mortality rate (NMR) of 18.8 per 1,000 live births. These figures were way behind the country's Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of an NMR of 52 per 10,000 live births and an NMR of 17.3 per 1,000 live births by 2015. This paper is an assessment of the local maternal and neonatal health situation and what are the current interventions done by the local government to solve its maternal and neonatal issues. To achieve this goals, the study employed data researchers, focused group discussions (FGDs) among community officials and concerned local government agencies and conducted key informant interviews (KII). The period covered was from October 2012 to October 2013. It was noted that one direct cause of increased NMR and MMR in the area was due to persistence of home deliveries and attendance of deliveries by non-health professionals. Factors which predispose these mothers to seek non-skilled birth attendants include lack of health insurance, lack of readily available transportation, lack of savings or extra money for expenses at the hospital, and personal preference (i.e. comfortable at home). While factors that promote access and use of health services include financial stability, awareness on health services and policies, and availability of support system such as relatives, barangay health workers, and barangay officials. Local government actions that promote maternal and neonatal health include regular, focused, family-centred health education; regular health service delivery; investment in equipment and infrastructures such as roads to ease access of services; regular consultation with barangay leaders and health workers; creation of policies to regulate health services; allocation of emergency funds for use of indigents; and collaborative efforts between the barangay captains, barangay health workers, and the local government. The LGU, however, in order to attain desired health outcome, has to improve its health system. The six pillars of the health system should be stabilized. The LGU should increase its health budget and should adopt local financing scheme which encourage the community to save for future health expenses. There should be enough resources for health, with every key positions filled in. HRH should be trained on Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (BEmONC) and essential intrapartum newborn care (EINC) to provide quality maternal and neonatal health care. It should also have a sound information management system so that data and reports area readily accessible and can be utilized for planning and other purposes.