Adolescent reproductive healthcare programs and services in Iloilo City's public health system: Stakeholders' concepts, perceptions and recommendations

• Main Author: Badayos, Mary Barby Penacerrada
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2002
• Subjects: Teenagers > Medical care; Public health; Regional medical programs; Health planning; Other Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/2926
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study determines how the different stakeholders in adolescent reproductive health in Iloilo City's public health system, namely, the adolescents, parents, teachers, religious leaders, healthcare service providers and LGU health representatives, understood the concept of adolescent reproductive health. Likewise, it endeavored to present the stakeholder groups' views on adolescent reproductive healthcare (ARH) programs and services in the public health system, as well as their perceived barriers or constraints to the implementation of such programs and services. Their suggestions on how to overcome these perceived barriers or constraints were examined, including recommendations on how to make public health ARH programs and services effective and culturally-appropriate for adolescents. This study was exploratory and utilized focus group discussions and key informant in-depth interviews to gather data from the identified stakeholder groups in Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro District, Iloilo City. The focus group discussions were conducted with four group of adolescents, representing males and females aged 15-19 and 20-24. The key informant in-depth interviews were employed on at least three key informants per stakeholder group representing parents, teachers, religious leaders, health service providers and LGU health representatives. All the research participants were purposively chosen. The study showed that all stakeholder groups were generally not familiar with the concept of reproductive health. The few who expressed they have encountered the term associated it with family planning. With regards the concept of adolescent reproductive health or keeping adolescents safe from unwanted pregnancy, abortion, STDs and sexual coercion, the older stakeholder groups underscored that adolescents should refrain from engaging in premarital sex. On the other hand, the adolescent groups associated adolescent reproductive health with contraceptive use, withdrawal and abstinence. Counseling, sex education and seminars/lectures/trainings on adolescent reproductive health were the foremost views of all stakeholder groups with regards ARH programs and services. Significantly, the adolescent stakeholders verbalized the need for contraceptive provision to be made part of public health ARH programs and services. In contrast, the other major stakeholder groups were either apprehensive or downright against contraceptive provision for adolescents, primarily saying that such might lead adolescents to think that premarital sex is condoned. The stakeholder groups primarily identified the adverse reactions of parents as an anticipated barrier/constraint in the implementation of public health ARH programs and services. Some stakeholder groups likewise anticipate the resistance of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy as a barrier/constraint. Meanwhile, the different stakeholder groups in this study commonly think that IEC campaigns in the community, particularly to the parents, may overcome perceived barriers or constraints to adolescent reproductive healthcare programs and services.