Evaluation of the level of awareness of the Muslim Religious leaders towards family health program in improving reproductive behaviors in Matanog, Maguindanao /
Nor-Ayin A. Salik.
- xiv, 134 leaves : illustrations
Graduate School of Public and Development Management
Given the need to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through Universal Health Care (UHC), the local health sector is in dire need to maximize its limited resources, prioritize things and outlay health plans for the development of the local health system gearing towards its realization. Capitalizing on the presence of the Muslim Religious Leaders (MRLs) in Matanog, Maguindanao, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) would mean building partnership with them to vie for the improvement of the reproductive behaviors of the community centering on the family planning (FP) or family health program (FHP). Moreover, the level of awareness of these MRLs are obtained to serve as baseline data that is used as a guide in making a policy guideline by several stakeholders and finally, a modified brochure which is written in the vernacular with Qur'anic verses is developed to be used creatively in community health teachings for their better understanding. Several interviews, document analysis, focused group discussions (FGDs), and consultative meetings are employed. As a result, this brochure is further approved and currently on its implementation phase. The program has been found out to be successful as an eye-opener for the community to further improve on their reproductive behaviors through this FHP despite the fact that behavioral change, takes a long while before it becomes apparent.