The out of school youth in a selected Cagayan de Oro City barangay: A study of their sexual and reproductive health practices and needs

• Main Author: Bahian, Divina B.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2003
• Subjects: Youth > Sexual behavior > Philippines > Cagayan de Oro City; Dropouts > Sexual behavior > Philippines > Cagayan de Oro City; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/3083; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/9921/viewcontent/CDTG003532_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study describes the sexual and reproductive health behavior of the out-of-school youth (OSY) in Cagayan de Oro City, as well as their reproductive health needs, and the perceived difficulties in gaining access to and their recommendations for adolescent reproductive health (ARH) service. The study utilized quantitative method, particularly survey using an interview schedule to elicit responses from the sample. Purposive and network sampling were employed in the study. Sixty OSY respondents, equally divided into males and females and into older and younger categories, coming from one barangay were interviewed in the study. The findings showed that most of the respondents had some high school education, with almost two-thirds living away from their parents. While majority agreed that teenage pregnancy imposes health risks to both mother and child, many were not aware that engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse during coital debuts and one-night stands could impregnate a woman. A majority of the respondents accurately identified the correct mode of transmission of HIV/AIDS, but they also held erroneous beliefs on the misconceived modes of transmission of the virus. Half of the respondents experienced sexual intercourse, with more males reporting sexual activity than females. The level of knowledge on contraception was high, but the use of contraceptives was very low among the sexually active respondents. During coital debut, none of the females and very few of the males used contraceptives. In subsequent sexual intercourses, only a number of the sexually active respondents used contraceptives. A minority of the males reported sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, none of the males who had history of STIs visited health centers for treatment. Sexually active females who became pregnant visited health facilities for prenatal care services. The respondents believed that their peers who had reproductive health problems would not seek medical attention for fear of being stigmatized and for fear that their STIs or pregnancy would be discovered by their parents. Generally, they did not seek health services for their own reproductive health because they do not see a need for it. However, they espoused massive information drive on the ARH program so they would be informed about issues surrounding their reproductive health. Thus, it is crucial that city ordinances be passed to create an ARH program in Cagayan de Oro City to address the needs of the OSYs.