Barriers to the implementation of sexual and reproductive health programs for adolescents in Eastern Visayas, Philippines: A thematic synthesis of the national policies using a qualitative study
Author Information
Kim Leonard G. dela Luna1, Alvin Duke R. Sy2, Rowel C. Malimban1, John Oliver H. Estadilla3, Jasper M. Maglinab3, Heyeon Ji4, Jihwan Jeon4 and, Carl Mark Vincent B. Babasoro1
1Department of Nutrition, College of Public Health, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines, 2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Padre Faura St, Ermita, Manila, Philippines, 3World Vision Development Foundation, Inc. (World Vision Philippines), West Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines, 4World Vision Korea, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Journal of Rural Medicine, Volume 19 Issue 4: 139-147, May 2024. | DOI: https://doi.org/10.2185/jrm.2023-040
Abstract
Despite significant progress in reducing adolescent pregnancy rates across the Philippines, more than half of the regions still report rates higher than the national average. For example, Eastern Visayas, located in the east-central part of the country, has seen a decline in teenage pregnancy rates from 6.9% in 2017 to 4.9% in 2022. However, it still faces a high prevalence of cases, indicating ongoing challenges.
In response to this issue, various national measures have been implemented, including a reproductive health law and policies aimed at ensuring adolescents receive youth-friendly health services at all government levels. Although these initiatives are designed to provide high-quality care, significant gaps persist in their implementation. These gaps are largely attributed to political disagreements and widespread ambivalence toward sexual and reproductive health among Filipinos.
Hence, this study aims to review and analyze existing reproductive health (RH) policies and their implementation in addressing teenage pregnancy specifically in Eastern Visayas. The review focuses on four RH-related policies in the Philippines and how they are applied in the region. A qualitative research design was utilized, involving key informant interviews with service providers and four focus group discussions with beneficiaries, each consisting of five to six participants.
The thematic analysis revealed a notable gap between policy and practice in the region. This gap is mainly due to the refusal of service providers to cater to teenagers’ needs regarding reproductive health services. This has resulted in teenagers hesitating to seek reproductive health services and related support from primary healthcare facilities. Service beneficiaries have also reported on the unavailability of several reproductive health services in primary healthcare facilities.
The gap between national policies and program implementation must be bridged. This can be achieved by creating culturally specific policies that can improve the implementation of reproductive health programs in the study areas.
