Teenagers’ Perspective About the Dostribution of Free Contraceptives

TEENAGERS’ PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE DOSTRIBUTION OF FREE CONTRACEPTIVES

A Research proposal

Presented to

Faculty of Senior High School

Our Lady of Fatima University

In Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for

Practical Research 1

Armada, Ken Francis T.

Azucena, Justin M.

Palma, James Patrick A.

Sumido, Allan James Gray

BE-STEM 11-8

Research Adviser

Lovelyn F. Laresma, MA

January 2018

Introduction

The Department of Health (DOH) distributed free contraceptives in different schools and health centers within Metro Manila. This act done by the DOH have caused several individuals a variety of reactions and perceptions about it. Furthermore, several individuals are favorable of it, yet there are still individuals who refuse to it. There are misconceptions about the distribution of free contraceptives such as the pros and cons that might take place after giving it to certain individuals. On the other hand, as soon as we thresh out the strategy with the Department of Education (DepEd), we can continue to distribute condoms after providing them proper counseling (Ubial, 2016).

        One of the issues that triggered the DOH to distribute free contraceptives is the increasing number of young individuals that is now involved to early pregnancy and motherhood; by means of this the number of population for today's generation is continuously rising. In addition to these, young mothers specifically within the range of ages 15 to 24 years, do not have prior knowledge on responsible parenting. Early childbearing in the Philippines is occurring most of the time at Caraga  (38%) and Cagayan Valley (37%) more than the other regions. The proportion of young adult women in the lowest wealth quintile versus 13% for women in the highest wealth quintile. The survey also reveals that one out of five of young adult Filipino women age 18 to 24 years old had initiated sexual activity before age 18.

        The main objective of this research is to acquire concrete details of what might be the general reactions and opinions of the citizens regarding to the distribution of free contraceptives. According to several researches, it indicates that contraceptives are another way of reducing the speed of the out-growing number of population in the country. Thus, proper counseling, parental guidance and teaching sex education are also a ways of responsible parenting so that people will acquire prior knowledge about its advantages and disadvantages. This study will explore the thoughts and perspectives of individuals for being neutral, favorable or not in this act of the DOH in spreading contraceptives to schools and health centers. This study limited its focus to those individuals who have enough background of what contraceptive and its role is.

        The study is designed for the readers to further understand why the DOH had decided to give free condoms in different areas within Metro Manila, and to know the initial response of certain individuals in these fields. This research is also recommended to be used in future researches if the results will change greatly and/or to see the differences of progress in every year. It will enlighten the minds of individuals to bring awareness to the individuals about this activity.

        While the Department of Education (DepEd) recognizes the need to promptly address the surging spread of HIV/AIDS among the youth, the Department will have to hold thorough and careful discussions with the Department of Health (DoH) regarding the health agency’s plan to distribute condoms in schools next year.
 
               Through the series of discourse, the Department will want to identify and study whether this move to arrest the epidemic is appropriate to cover schools and learning institutions, and if not, what are other measures that we can explore without compromising, first, the parents’ right and responsibility to educate their children against the dangers of engaging in pre-marital sex, and second, the State’s mandate to protect minors from any form of abuse. DepEd will also have to look into how and why, despite progressive mindset in other countries, this approach is not implemented by all.

Statement of the problem:

 The main problem in the study is to determine the prior knowledge and reactions of the citizens about the distribution of free contraceptives as an activity of the Department of Health (DOH).

 Specifically, this study will answer the following:

 1. What are the views and opinions of people in regards to the distribution of contraceptives in terms of being:

           1.1 Neutral

              1.2 Favorable

                1.3 Not favorable

 2. What are the prior insights known by people about the proper usage of contraceptives?