A comparison of vital registration and reproductive-age mortality survey in Bukidnon, Philippines, 2008.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of reported maternal deaths for 2008 in a province in the Philippines.

Methods: A reproductive-age mortality survey (RAMOS) was conducted to identify deaths of women aged 15-49 years from Bukidnon, Philippines, in 2008. Sources included various health and community reporting units.

Timing of hepatitis B vaccination and impact of non-simultaneous vaccination with DTP vaccine following introduction of a hepatitis B birth dose in the Philippines.

Timely administration of hepatitis B vaccine beginning at birth prevents up to 95 per cent of perinatally acquired hepatitis B virus infections in infants of infected mothers. The Philippines changed its national HepB schedule in 2007 to include a dose at birth. We evaluated vaccination schedule change by reviewing infant records at selected health facilities to measure completeness and timeliness of HepB administration and frequency of recommended, simultaneous vaccination with diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine.

The economic burden of infant formula on families with young children in the Philippines.

Background: Infant formula usage places children at risk for illness and death. Studies in the United States demonstrated high economic burden, health care costs, and absenteeism of caregivers associated with formula usage. Despite high formula usage in developing countries, no economic studies were found.

Is unimpeded marketing for breast milk substitutes responsible for the decline in breastfeeding in the Philippines? An exploratory survey and focus group analysis.

Infant mortality and morbidity risk is linked to formula usage. The proportion of Filipino infant formula users rose 6% between 2003 and 2008. It is hypothesized this rise resulted from aggressive formula industry marketing.

Immediate newborn care practices delay thermoregulation and breastfeeding initiation.

Aim: A deadly nosocomial outbreak in a Philippine hospital drew nationwide attention to neonatal sepsis. Together with specific infection control measures, interventions that protect newborns against infection-related mortality include drying, skin-to-skin contact, delayed cord clamping, breastfeeding initiation and delayed bathing. This evaluation characterized hospital care in the first hours of life with the intent to drive policy change, strategic planning and hospital reform.

Implementing a national policy for hepatitis B birth dose vaccination in Philippines: lessons for improved delivery.

Background: An estimated seven million Filipinos (10-12% of the population) are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Achieving high birth dose coverage with hepatitis B vaccine is critical for achieving the World Health Organization's Western Pacific Regional goal of reducing the prevalence of chronic HBV among children 5 years of age to <2% by 2012.

Methods: Seven months after the Philippines adopted a hepatitis B vaccine birth dose policy, hospitals with the highest number of deliveries were invited to participate in an assessment of implementation of the birth dose policy.

Secondary analysis of a national health survey on factors influencing women in the Philippines to deliver at home and unattended by a healthcare professional.

Objective: To elucidate factors that influence Philippine women to deliver at home and not be attended by a healthcare professional.

Methods: Analysis of hospital data that were collected through Global Positioning System technology uploaded into the WHO HealthMapper and data on 7380 women from the Philippines Demographic and Health Survey, 2003.

Results: Most of the home deliveries that were not attended by healthcare professionals occurred within 15 km of a hospital.

Formula feeding is associated with increased hospital admissions due to infections among infants younger than 6 months in Manila, Philippines.

This case control study evaluates the association between hospitalization due to infection and feeding practices among infants aged >or= 3 days to < 6 months. Mothers of 191 cases hospitalized for infections and 208 healthy controls were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire documenting infant-feeding history. Results given in odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals (OR, 95% CI) were adjusted for age, education, and place of delivery.