by Daniel Varias (Isochore)
Health information cascades from one social
media user to another. Each of them participates in a series of changing of profile
photo frames and sharing of infographics and webinars with a healthier
Philippines in mind. Such revolutionary scheme drives the First National Social
Media Awareness Campaign on Preconception Health of Volunteer Youth Leaders for
Health-Philippines from August 24 to 29, 2020.
About the Advocacy
VYLH-Philippines conducts the social media
campaign to conceive more advocates for their fourth and latest advocacy: preconception
health, i.e. the health and wellness of people within their reproductive years.
The need to advocate preconception health arises as birth defects and preterm
births annually afflict 23 million babies worldwide, with emphasized incumbrance
towards low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like the Philippines. Thus,
the advocacy is an effort to prevent deaths of newborns and children below the
age of five by 2030, which is part third Sustainable Development Goal of the
United Nations: Good Health and Well-Being.
The inequalities in survival rates of premature
infants are alarming, especially in low-income countries, where half of the
babies born two months early die due to the absence of feasible and
cost-effective care such as incubation, breastfeeding, and infection and respiration
management. Those who survive, however, are at risk of facing lifelong learning
disabilities and/or audiovisual impairments. Multiple pregnancies, infections,
and chronic illnesses of the parents commonly cause preterm births, where
mothers give birth to infants before 37 weeks of pregnancy, though currents
studies could not conclude a specific cause.
Another cause of newborn and children impairment
and death are congenital anomalies, i.e. commonly notorious for the term “birth
defects.” These are functional anomalies occurring while the fetus resides in
the womb. However, it is concerning that 94% of congenital anomalies occur in
LMICs, and survivors of these defects often face deficient access to support
services amid social stigma, discrimination, and distance from community
interaction. Some birth defects, on the other hand, are preventable through screening,
vaccination, medical care during pregnancy, and adequate supplementation of
nutrients such as folic acid and iodine.
With preconception health catering the health
of people within the reproductive age to ensure healthy newborns, the advocacy shines
the most not only in reducing preterm births and birth defects, but also in
promoting the overall health of the community throughout age brackets: from
neonatal to adulthood.
L.I.N.C. Framework—Link to Preconception Health
Promoting preconception health utilizes the
Lifestyle, Infection, Nutrition, and Contraception (L.I.N.C.) framework to
address the risk factors associated with birth defects and preterm birth. In
2006, the Global Report on Birth Defects identified these risk factors. Six
years later, Born Too Soon: The Global Action Reports on Preterm Births followed
up in identifying the factors. Through the framework, people within the
reproductive age achieve physical, social, and psychological health to keep
diseases at bay, thus sparing future newborns from the perils or congenital anomalies
and preterm births.
The L.I.N.C. framework fosters a checklist for everyone
monitoring their health for conception. Under the Lifestyle component, the
framework implores us to refrain from alcohol consumption, smoking, illegal
drug usage, exposure to harmful chemicals, seeking medical advice for chronic illnesses,
and medication intake. It also encourages 150 minutes of weekly exercise,
stress management, and mental healthcare.
Under the Infection component, the framework
urges every person to avoid contacting infectious diseases through vaccination,
proper hygiene, sanitation, and food preparation. The framework also promotes
safe sex to avoid Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) along with STD
screening.
Moving on to the Nutrition component, the
framework reminds everyone to combat malnutrition by maintaining a balanced,
nutrient-packed diet and being knowledgeable of the “10
Kumainments” and “Pinggang
Pinoy.” Lastly, the Contraception component of the framework promotes
family planning to future parents through information dissemination on the
right age of pregnancy, proper time it takes before the next pregnancy, planned
number of children in the family, the importance of family history regarding
genetic diseases, intake of dietary supplements especially folic acid, and
vaccination advice upon preconception.
Heeding the Advocacy
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, VYLH-Philippines
and their partner organizations promote preconception health through initiatives
that utilize social media. They released publicity materials that inform the
public about preconception health and the L.I.N.C. framework through
infographics posted and shareable on Facebook pages and profiles. Social media
users are also able to set up frames on their profile pictures with captions on
advocating about preconception health. They also organized a webinar on preconception
health to be held on August 29, 2020, 7 PM. Know more about the webinar here.
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