Abstract:
The study intended to obtain a better understanding of young people's current situation and need
for reproductive health information and services. It also sought to identify the conditions which
promote or hinder the provision, utilization and promotion of reproductive health information,
education and communication campaigns and direct services. The study employed a survey
questionnaire to 287 respondents from randomly selected sections of third and fourth years of the
four secondary schools - private and public, located in Barangay Bulanao, Tabuk, Kalinga. The
study also utilized focus group discussions with randomly selected participants and ethnographic
interviews with school principals and rural health workers.
The study revealed that there was no significant relationship between the respondents * gender
and their reproductive knowledge. The major source of reproductive health knowledge and
information were the teachers. Group sharing and discussion was also relevant to the
respondents* acquisition of reproductive health knowledge. Lack of educational materials,
insufficient time and teachers' inability to teach the subject matter hindered the respondents from
obtaining correct and adequate reproductive health knowledge and information while
unawareness of various adolescent reproductive health programs coupled with "hiya" denied the
respondents from accessing and utilizing intended reproductive health services.
