Montera, N. E. (2015). Improving the utilization of maternal health care services by provision of incentives to parturient of Tubigon, Bohol (Unpublished master's thesis).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 5 Thesis (MPM-HSD)--Development Academy of the Philippines.

The Philippines has a slow progress towards achievement of the Millennium Development Goal No. 5, which is to improve maternal health outcomes. Despite efforts to strengthen the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition program of the Department of Health, still a number of mothers die due to preventable causes. Tubigon, a first class municipality in the province of Bohol, had a similar problem as the majority of the country. Maternal mortality rates fell at 233 per 100,000 live births for 2014. The researcher analyzed the problem as caused by a low utilization of maternal health care (MHC) services (prenatal care, postpartum care, facility-based delivery and skilled birth attendance) by mothers in the municipality, Thus, this study came up with three objectives: first, to discuss the current maternal health status of Tubigon; second, to determine the socio-demographic factors which affects the mothers' frequency of utilization of MHC services; and third, to implement strategies to increase utilization of MHC services, and eventually, improve over-all maternal health outcomes. Through secondary data from FHSIS records of the RHU for the past 4 years, the researcher was able to analyze the current maternal health status in Tubigon. The findings suggests that the required 4 prenatal care (PNC), and its components- tetanus toxoid vaccination, Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation, as well as, 2 postpartum visits (PPV) were not observed by majority of women in Tubigon, with only an average of 10-15% compliance per annum. There were no problems with facikity-based delivery (FBD) and skiled-birth attendance (SBA) in Tubigon, as records showed an average of 90% compliance for both. In addition, health workersof Tubigon RHU and a sample of mothers were given questionnaires to elicit opinions on the lapses or strengths of the health system to further describe the maternal health condition in the municipality. A quantitative survey regarding what factors significantly affect mothers' desire and frequency of utilization of MHC services was done. Using the Odds Ratio and Confidence Interval, results showed that the higher the level of education of the mother and her husband, and those who are professionals were the most likely to complete the MHC services. Other significant factors which affect the MHC utilization negatively were higher parity, too young (15-24) and too old (45 and above) at childbirth, and residing in island and upland barangays without health stations. The researcher then addressed the low utilization of MHC services by employing a Maternal Incentive Scheme (MIS) called the Preggy Prize Program, where mothers be given in-kind incentive once they completed 4 PNC, 2 PPV and FBD at Tubigon Birthing Center. Three months post-launching of the program, increased demands for PNC was already noted. An MIS, according to past literatures, however, does not work long-term since the subjects become accustomed to the reward. Hence, to further improve behavior change among others, this Preggy Prize Program strategy was coupled with an aggressive information, eeducation and communication campaign directed more to the mothers identified as those who are least likely to avail of MHC services as concluded in the second objective.