In 2024, the Safe Beginnings: 1st Regional Conference on Maternal and Child Health (MCH) was held in the Calabarzon Region of the Philippines, in partnership with the 14th International Conference on the MCH Handbook. This conference emphasized the role of the MCH Handbook in ensuring continuum of care by supporting pregnant women and their families. It brought together experts and stakeholders for MCH from across the globe, where the progress of implementing the MCH handbook in 18 different countries was discussed, and the Manila Declaration was formally released as part of the mandate to strengthen collaboration towards sustainable MCH handbook programs for improved MCH outcomes.

Then in May 2025, the online seminar Global Updates on Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and the MCH Handbook, and was held to follow through on the agreements reached during the 14th international conference. Developments on MCH handbook implementation were discussed by representatives from the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia and the United States. Indonesia was also announced as the venue of the 15th International Conference on the MCH Handbook.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the number and profile of traditional and alternative health care (TAHC) practitioners catering to women’s need in Basilan, Philippines.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed, using cluster sampling to select half of Basilan’s municipalities, including Lamitan City. All barangays in the selected areas were surveyed, and community health workers assisted in identifying and locating practitioners. Data collectors interviewed those who met the inclusion criteria, with this publication focusing specifically on TAHC practitioners who served women.

Results: In the province of Basilan, 861 TAHC practitioners were profiled, of whom 160 (19.1%) provided services to pregnant women. They used oils, balms, and plant-based remedies to address mild conditions and positioned the fetus inside the womb. Most practitioners were females aged 50–59 years, with limited formal education and an average of 22 years of practice, primarily receiving voluntary donations for their services.

Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight the significant role of TAHC practitioners in Basilan and emphasize the need for comprehensive data collection to effectively integrate their services into the public health system and address health workforce gaps.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the use of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) handbook in Indonesia and explore its potential for promoting integrated oral health care education for pregnant women and mothers of under-five children.

Methods: A survey was conducted at Puskesmas Pesanggrahan (public health center) to assess MCH handbook use, oral care behaviors, and attitudes toward oral health messages, complemented by the key informant interviews with representatives of the Ministry of Health and supporting data from relevant directorates. Descriptive and thematic analyses were used to interpret survey findings and national program insights.

Results: Most respondents owned and used the MCH handbook, with pregnant women showing higher engagement than mothers of under-five children. While oral care practices were generally good among adult respondents, gaps in early childhood oral hygiene, knowledge, and dental service utilization were evident, highlighting the need for strengthened maternal awareness and health education.

Conclusions: The MCH handbook is a valuable tool for promoting oral health, but its potential is not fully maximized. Strengthening its use through targeted health education may improve early childhood oral care practices and service uptake.

Background: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder that greatly increases maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, especially in primigravida women. L-arginine, a nitric oxide precursor, may enhance endothelial function and reduce blood pressure. This study investigates its effectiveness in preventing preeclampsia among primigravida women at increased risk.

Methods: This one-year quasi-experimental study included 100 primigravida women (aged 18–40, at 13 weeks’ gestation) with a family history of hypertensive disorders. Participants were randomly divided into two groups of 50. Group A received 1,000 mg of L-arginine daily plus standard antenatal care; Group B received standard care only. Follow-up occurred every four weeks until delivery, monitoring blood pressure, urine protein, and side effects. Outcomes included preeclampsia, maternal, and neonatal complications. Statistical analysis used t-tests and Chi-square tests.

Results: The incidence of preeclampsia was lower in the intervention group (12%) than in the control group (28%), though this difference did not reach statistical significance (P=0.06). Mean gestational age at delivery was significantly higher in the intervention group (37.70±1.52 vs. 36.04±2.24 weeks; P<0.001), with considerably lower rates of preterm birth (34% vs. 74%; P<0.001) and higher birth weight (2,916.02±455.11 vs. 2,735.24±424.49 g; P=0.04). Vaginal delivery was more frequent (80% vs. 60%; P=0.04), and blood pressure at delivery was significantly lower (P<0.001). No serious adverse effects were reported.

Conclusion: L-arginine supplementation as a routine antenatal care appears to be a safe and effective approach to lowering the risk of preeclampsia in primigravida women. Its early use may provide a valuable, non-pharmacological preventive strategy within standard prenatal care practices

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare, life-threatening thrombotic microangiopathy caused by dysregulated complement activation. Pregnancy-associated aHUS (p-aHUS), which frequently develops postpartum, can lead to acute kidney injury. However, long-term outcomes, including subsequent pregnancies, remain poorly described. We report a 24-year-old primiparous woman who developed p-aHUS three days after cesarean delivery at 41 weeks’ gestation. She presented with thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, and acute kidney injury. Plasma exchange was initiated, resulting in hematologic and renal recovery by postpartum day 12. Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous missense variant in the C3 gene, classified as a variant of uncertain significance. Despite not receiving complement inhibition therapy, her renal function remained stable. She experienced no recurrence during a subsequent pregnancy three years later and had normal renal function at 10-year follow-up. This case suggests that long-term renal preservation is achievable, with successful subsequent pregnancy, in selected p-aHUS patients even without complement inhibition.