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    The Philippines Has A Policy Against Home Births. It's Not Playing Well In A Pandemic

    The "No Home Birth" policy was created to reduce maternal and newborn mortality rates. But critics say it makes giving birth expensive and complicated — especially during the coronavirus crisis.
    by Xyza Cruz Bacani Oct 25, 2020 6 minutes
    Marissa Tuping, a rural midwife, and Risa Calibuso, right, arrive in Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Hospital on July 21. Calibuso gave birth to her son moments later.

    Risa Calibuso, 34, wanted to give birth to her second child at home.

    In the Philippines, where she lives, that's against the law.

    In 2008 the country passed the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition Strategy policy — referred to as the "no home birth" policy. The goal was to reduce the country's high rates of maternal mortality, from 203 out of 100,000 live births that year to 52 by 2015.

    It's a controversial law. Despite the good intentions, some local groups assert that it impinges on the rights of women.

    What's more, the policy has not yet met its goal. In 2017, the maternal mortality rate in the Philippines was 121 deaths per 100,000 live births.

    Nor has there been a significant change in the rates of infant mortality. In 2008, there were 25.5 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2018, the figure was 22.5.

    The pandemic of 2020 has made the policy even more controversial. In the past, women who live in remote areas have had to arrange for transportation to the nearest

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