Women in fisheries and their utilization of reproductive healthcare services: Implications for maternal and child health outcomes

• Main Author: Dacles, Martin Sylvan I.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2015
• Subjects: Reproductive health services; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/5055
• Institution: De La Salle University

The descriptive study sought to determine how fisherwomen's sociodemographic characteristics and participation in fisheries-related activities influence their utilization of reproductive healthcare services. It is also interested in looking into the relationship between extent of reproductive healthcare services utilization of these women in fisheries and its effect to maternal and child health outcomes at birth. The study utilized survey method among 70 fisherwomen in Mercedes, Camarines Norte, Philippines. Findings of the study showed majority of these women fisherfolks are active in activities relating to pre-fishing, actual fishing and post-fishing activities. This means that the fisherwomen have moderate to high level of participation in fisheries-related activities (FRAs) through the (1) no. of FRAs they perform, (2) time spent doing FRAs, (3) decision-making capacity and (4) access to resources in matters concerning FRAs. Moreover, when it comes to their utilization of RH services, results show that these fisherwomen are actively employing several RH services such as FOC methods, pre and postnatal care visits and skilled care delivery at birth. In addition to this, it had been found out that they are also using TBA services, together with the accredited health services from health centers. Hence, these women are using mixed-methods for the care of their reproductive health. The study further established that the sociodemographic characteristics and their participation in FRAs do influence women's utilization of RH services. When it comes to sociodemographic characteristics, the variables with the strongest association towards utilization of RH services are the women's weekly income and their educational attainment. On the other hand, for the women's participation in FRAs, findings suggest that the higher their participation level to FRAs, the more likely they will utilize reproductive healthcare services. It further showed that women who have higher extent of utilization of reproductive health services are least likely to experience any maternal and child health complications at birth.