Majority of people in poor provinces have less access to adequate health care and facilities than those living in urban areas. Lambo further explained the factors that contribute to a high maternal death rate. The first has something to do with mothers' attitude in seeking medical care. The distance of rural patients to medical facilities is another factor as well as the delay in receiving appropriate care in the hospitals. Rural facilities are often faced with problems such as the lack of adequate medical facilities, medicines, expertise to do cesarean operations and even supply of blood for transfusion.
Maternal death happens when a pregnant woman develops complications in the process of delivery.
It is caused by hemorrhages, infections or complications which arise during labor, delivery or abortion. Lambo said that mothers become vulnerable to maternal deaths because they are suffering from malnutrition and micro-nutrient deficiencies. This would give them the opportunity to work with lighter load but with higher pay. So far, AVSC has opened 191 clinics in key cities especially in poor communities. For the month of July, five clinics were opened in Iloilo City.