SAFE MOTHERHOOD

1. True/False. Family Planning is not a pillar of Safe

motherhood.

2. True/ False. Safe Motherhood begins with the assurance of

basic safe living as a girl and a woman in society.

3. True/False. Antenatal Care reduces the risk of pregnancy

complications.

4. True/False. The better the health of the mother, the less

likely she is to transmit HIV to her baby.

5. True/False. Obstetric care is the most critical phase of the

mother and baby.
6. True or False. One must have the flu vaccine before December.

7. True or False. Only older people need the flu vaccine.

8. True or False. Hand washing can prevent the spread of a virus.

9. True or False. There are only 3 types of flu viruses.

10. True or False. Death can be a side effect of flu vaccine.

1. True/False. Family Planning is not a pillar of Safe
motherhood.

2. True/ False. Safe Motherhood begins with the assurance of

basic safe living as a girl and a woman in society.

3. True/False. Antenatal Care reduces the risk of pregnancy

complications.

4. True/False. The better the health of the mother, the less

likely she is to transmit HIV to her baby.

5. True/False. Obstetric care is the most critical phase of the

mother and baby.
6. True or False. One must have the flu vaccine before
December.

7. True or False. Only older people need the flu vaccine.

8. True or False. Hand washing can prevent the spread of a

virus.

9. True or False. There are only 3 types of flu viruses.

10. True or False. Death can be a side effect of flu vaccine.

DEFINITION
 Safe Motherhood means that no woman, fetus or baby should
die or be harmed by pregnancy or birth. Safe Motherhood
begins with the assurance of basic safe living as a girl and a
woman in society.
 Safe Motherhood means: social equity for women, maternal
health care in Primary Health Care, Essential Obstetrics for all
and Family Planning for all couples.
 Safe Motherhood implies the availability, acceptability, and
easy access to health care for woman’s prenatal, birth,
postpartum, family planning and gynecological needs.
 Safe Motherhood values the girl child, respects the freedom to
choose when and whether to have children, and encourages
active participation during health care.
6 PILLARS OF SAFE MOTHERHOOD

SAFE MOTHERHOOD

Post Abortive Care

STD-HIV Control
Ante-Natal Care
Family Planning

Post-Natal Care
Obstetric Care
Communication for Behavior Change

Primary Health Care

Equity and Education for Women

6 PILLARS OF SAFE MOTHERHOOD
Family Planning

Key facts
• An estimated 225 million women in developing countries would like to delay or stop
childbearing but are not using any method of contraception.

• Some family planning methods, such as condoms, help prevent the transmission of
HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

• Family planning / contraception reduces the need for abortion, especially unsafe
abortion.

• By preventing unintended pregnancy, family planning /contraception prevents

deaths of mothers and children.

http://who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs351/en/
Antenatal Care
Benefits of Antenatal Care
1. Reduce the risk of pregnancy complications.

2. Reduce the infant's risk for complications.

3. Help ensure the medications women take are safe.

Certain medications, including some acne treatments
and dietary and herbal supplements are not safe to
take during pregnancy.
Obstetric Care
Obstetric Care

http://www.doh.gov.ph/national-safe-motherhood-program
Post-natal Care

The postnatal period is a critical phase in the lives of

mothers and newborn babies. Most maternal
and infant deaths occur during this time.
Yet, this is the most neglected period for the
provision of quality care.

http://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/publications/WHO-MCA-PNC-2014-Briefer_A4.pdf
Post-natal Care – PMFTC Vigan GLPP Programs

Health Awareness Program on Family Planning & Breastfeeding

Post abortion Care

Complications of spontaneous miscarriages and therapeutic abortions include the following:

• Post abortion triad (pain, bleeding, low-grade fever) • Failed abortion

• Hematometria • Septic abortion

• Retained products of conception • Cervical shock

• Uterine perforation • Cervical laceration

• Bowel and bladder injury • Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/795001-overview
Sexually Transmitted Disease/HIV/AIDS Control

Mother-to-child transmission

There appears to be a greater risk of HIV transmission during pregnancy and childbirth if the mother has a high
viral load, or if her immune status is poor. Her viral load will be higher if she:

• has become HIV positive just before or during her pregnancy

• is continuing to be exposed to the HIV virus through unprotected sex in pregnancy
• has symptomatic HIV.

A woman's immune status may be linked to a high viral load and can be assessed by taking a CD4 count.
The lower the CD4 count, the lower her immune status.
Poor diet, having another STI such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia or syphilis or having other infections such as malaria
also appear to increase the risk of transmission from an HIV-positive mother to her baby.
In general, the better the health of the mother, the less likely she is to transmit HIV to her baby.
QUESTIONS/CLARIFICATIONS