Asia Pacific Journal of Education, Arts and Sciences, Vol. 2 No. 1, January 2015 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6 P-ISSN 2362-8022 | E-ISSN 2362-8030 Maternal Profile, Awareness and Utilization of Basic Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care (BEmONC) in a Rural Municipality in Iloilo, Philippines JOANNA MARIE S. ALVARO 1 and RYAN MICHAEL F. ODUCADO 2 Central Philippine University, Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines 1 West Visayas State University, La Paz, Iloilo City, Philippines 2 roducado@yahoo.com Date Received: November 4, 2014; Date Revised: December 22, 2014 Abstract – This descriptive correlational study was conducted to determine the maternal profile, awareness and utilization of Basic Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care (BEmONC) among women of reproductive age (WRA) in a rural municipality in Iloilo. The 346 respondents were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Data were gathered using a structured interview schedule prepared and validated prior to the actual data collection. For univariate, frequency, percentage, and mean were utilized to describe the data while Chi- square, Gamma, and Cramer’s V were used to analyze and determine relationships between variables. The results revealed that most of the respondents were highly aware of the Rural Health Unit (RHU) as a BEmONC facility and its services. However, most of them have utilized only the prenatal package but not the childbirth and postnatal services. Hypothesis testing found a significant relationship between utilization of BEmONC services and employment status, income level, educational status, OB score, pregnancy status and awareness of BEmONC services. Increasing awareness about maternal and child health care and facility-based services and educating women planning for safe childbirth to deliver in a BEmONC facility that is attended by a skilled medical health professional are essential for the survival of the mother and the newborn. Keywords – BEmONC, Maternal health, Awareness of maternal health services, Utilization of maternal health services INTRODUCTION Women’s utilization of maternal health care facility have a significant value to the wellbeing and survival of both the mother and her child during childbirth (Gazali, Muktar, & Gana, 2012; Akum, 2013). However, despite the efforts of the concerned organizations and the government, the maternal and infant mortality rate in the Philippines remains high with a maternal mortality ratio of 162 per 100,000 live births (National Statistics Office, 2006 Family Planning Survey cited in Yabut & Bautista, 2007). According to the Department of Health (2009), “the current level of maternal mortality in the Philippines is mostly attributed to the predominance of home births (61 percent per the 2003 National Demographic and Health Survey) and the relatively high proportion (37%) of these are assisted by traditional birth attendants (TBAs) or hilots”. To help achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goal 5 and in order to advance maternal health and reduce deaths, the priority strategy of the World Health Organization is the improvement of access, availability and utilization of emergency obstetric and newborn care and ensuring that all births are attended by a skilled health worker (WHO, 2008). The differences in the utilization of health care services and the consequential unfavorable health outcomes are major public health concerns. Andersen’s (1995) model of use of health care services suggests that “people’s use of services is a function of their predisposition to use services, factors which enable or impede use and their need for care”. It has been observed that several factors, including socioeconomic and demographic factors, have been documented in many studies, to affect utilization of such services (Chakraborty, et al., 2003; Onah, Ikeako & Iloabachie, 2006; Sharma, Sawangdee, & Sirirassamee, 2007; Adamu, 2011, Ochako, et al., 2011; Olayinka, Achi, Amos, & Chiedu, 2014). Awareness or lack of knowledge of services was found to be associated with