Design and implementation of a school-based adolescent reproductive health program in Salcedo, Ilocos Sur /
Dexter Bryan E. Cancino.
- xiii, 99 leaves : color illustrations
Graduate School of Public and Development Management.
Adolescence is a period between childhood and adulthood and usually associated with teenage years and is an intermediary stage and involves physical, cognitive, behavioral and psychosocial development which generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood. Adolescent sexual and reproductive health programs is intended to either provide access to comprehensive sexuality education; services to prevent, diagnose and treat STIs; and counselling on family planning. The Salcedo RHU has started some ASRH programs to address this problem with ASRH, particularly with teenage pregnancy. There are some programs and activities fro the adolescents which aim to promote awareness regarding their health. However, these programs are not sustainable for the holistic ASRH provision in Salcedo. The formulation and development of a comprehensive school-based ASRH program in both high schools of Salcedo aims to create several activities for the promotion of ASRH and in the future decrease the rate of adolescent pregnancy. There are a current ASRH programs by the DOH but it only serves as a guideline for the implementation of activities in the municipality. There is no definite and structured school-based ASRH program by the DOH which can be used for the municipality. The Salcedo RHU also has previous programs for ASRH but it is still not standardized and sustainable. The ASRH program is primarily based on the baseline knowledge of the students, key informant interview, as well as integration with the current ASRH program of the DOH. A comprehensive school-based program is more appropriate since the students are the central component and it has collaborations with other sectors which can strengthen the program. The baseline knowledge assessment of ASRH in schools found out that they have sex education in their schools but majority thinks that they need more. This is reflected by their poor knowledge on ASRH topics such as reproductive physiology, contraception, HIV-AIDS/STDs, sexual ideology, gender and sexual behavior. The respondents use health services but are primarily for health concerns in general and not necessarily on reproductive health services. The profiled respondents are also primarily Catholics and live with their family. The interviews of the students has indicated that one of the strategies that is applicable to them is conduct of a youth forum which include interactive activities such as movie showing, quizzes, games and recitations. The students also desire to create youth clubs and a youth center for them so that the provision of ASRH education is more appropriate to them. The interview with the teachers has indicated that the contents of ASRH that they provide to students are composed of reproductive changes in their body, social health and relationships, concept of well being and prevention of teenage pregnancy and premarital sex. However, they think that the current curriculum of sex education in schools is enough but needs to be updated with the actual problems that the students are experiencing in the community. They recommend addition of topics on risky behaviors; cyber bullying, sexual abuse and rape should also be included in the ASRH programs. The comprehensive school-based ASRH programs in Salcedo includes an ASRH forum fro the students, creation of an adolescent youth club and establishment of a youth center. The developed ASRH program is strategically implemented in the High School. The stakeholders are involved during the implementation along with the students and teachers in the high school. Active participation of the high schools, as well as the community partners are expected throughout the implementation of the program. Their evaluation of the program is also excellent.
Adolescent reproductive health. Health education. Reproductive health programs. Adolescent pregnancy--Philippines.