Reproductive Health Practices of the Buhid Mangyans of Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines

Abstract

Reproductive Health Practices of the Buhid Mangyans of Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines Marciel N. Salvador, Harold Q. Bautista, Mary Yole Apple Declaro-Ruedas Abstract The study was conducted to determine the profile of the Buhid Mangyans mothers in Occidental Mindoro; their reproductive health practices; the relationship between the profile of the Buhid Mangyan mothers and their reproductive health practices; and the problems encountered in the reproductive health delivery system among the Buhid Mangyans and Municipal Health Office. This study employed correlational research design. Sixty households from the three Buhid communities in Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, namely: Sitio Bato-Singit proper, Albunan and Natob were randomly selected for the study. The Buhids were young and literate with small household size family. The reproductive health practices were categorized into family planning, prenatal care services, labor and delivery, Puerperium and newborn care. They “never” practice pre-natal care and family planning. However, Puerperium and newborn care were “often” practice. Age and number of children are “not significantly related” to reproductive health practices. However, the number of years spent in formal education show “significantly related”. The Buhid women considered the problem in the reproductive health delivery system as “serious”. On the other hand, the Municipal Health Office regarded the problem as “moderately serious” in delivering health services. The study recommends conducting similar study with other IP communities in Occidental Mindoro and correlating other variables such as source of information with their reproductive health practices. Keywords: Buhid Mangyans, Buhid‟s profile, Reproductive Health Practices Full Text: PDF DOI: 10.15640/ijhs.v9n1a4