Health-Seeking Behavior of Filipino Teenage Pregnant Women at Selected Barangays of Cagayan de Oro City

The descriptive quantitative study was aimed to 1.) Determine profile of the respondents in terms of age, educational attainment and religion, 2.) Determine health-seeking behaviors in terms of prenatal health teaching, diet and supplementation, activity and rest, 3.) Establish difference in health-seeking behaviors by profile; and 4.) Identify factors that hinder health-seeking behaviors. The barangays selected were Macanhan and Consolacion and respondents were pregnant aged 12-19 years. The profile of the respondents showed that majority are aged 19, high school level, and Roman Catholic. In prenatal health teaching, respondents were generally very active (3.27). There is also evidence to suggest that the pregnant respondents were actively taking nutritious diet and vitamin supplements (2.87). The mean in activity and rest is 3.50 signifying that they avoid strenuous activities and spend more time taking adequate rest. There was no significant difference in the health-seeking behaviors among respondents when grouped by age, religion, and educational attainment. Hindrances or barriers for adopting a certain health seeking behavior were identified, such as “financial problemâ€, “fear of negative effectsâ€, “no knowledge on what to doâ€, “no time / many jobsâ€, “negative commentsâ€, “have body painsâ€, “won’t accept the situationâ€, and “hard time to visit health centersâ€.

 

Keywords - health seeking behaviors, pregnant teenagers, prenatal health teaching, diet and supplementation, activity and rest