BAUKO, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE – Rural Health Unit (RHU) – Bauko recorded a decrease in teenage delivery rate in Bauko, Mountain Province from 2020-2022 based on their annual monitoring.
According to Lauren P. Dalmen, Nurse of the Department of Health (DOH) – Human Resources, a total of 66 cases, or two percent of teenage deliveries were recorded in 2020. Accordingly, in 2021, 34 cases, or 0.98 percent of teenage deliveries were reported. Lastly, in 2022, 32 cases, or 0.95 percent were recorded. Dalmen further explained that the effect of social media, vices (alcohol, smoking), lack of guidance, rebellion, and curiosity is one of the many reasons for teenage deliveries.
With these records, the program “SaBaTa-BaTu Og-ogbo Toy-toya Isnan Anan-ak” (SHOTA) was established in 2017 by a group of obstetricians (OB) from RHU. Their partners included five municipalities Sabangan, Bauko, Tadian, Barlig, and Tubo, Abra. But in 2019, it was fully implemented to address the increasing teenage deliveries in Bauko. Aside from that, it also aims to solve HIV/AIDS, mental health issues, and vices.
In 2017, the program was conducted in 12 schools in various barangays of Bauko. They conduct the program at least twice a day in every session to cover all 4 modules. The first and second module is conducted in the morning and the third and fourth module is held in the afternoon session.
Module 1 contains lectures on adolescent health and development, Module 2 focuses on facts or bluffs regarding adolescent health, Module 3 discusses daily routines and risky moves of teenagers, and Module 4 discusses coping with teen challenges.
The activity is conducted through lectures and open forums. Prizes are given during their question-and-answer sessions.
Benefits of the SHOTA Program
One of the schools they visited to conduct the program is the Abatan National High School (ANHS).
According to Glory M. Pal-og, school head of ANHS, the program is for the students to be aware of their health.
She suggested that the program may be conducted twice a year to see the progress. Since the students enjoyed the program as they are encouraged to learn more.
She added that the activities the students do are psychosocial, engaging the current issues experienced by the students.
“The program itself was very well participated by the students they enjoy listening especially the activities that we have given to them, they learn much, that’s why I observe they like more, sana may follow up hindi lang once a year, dapat twice a year, first semester and second-semester para makita ang progress.”
According to Patricia B. Wangdali, school nurse of ANHS, the program aims to inform and educate the students on the issues of adolescence and being health conscious. The program has an impact on the students as they are aware especially, that mental health issues are currently happening.
“The improvement kaskada awareness ti adolescence tayo, haan lang piman nga jay main purpose da ket kayat da i-involve amin. Ti tulong ti SHOTA at least maibaga kinyada ti talaga nga usto maisuro about dagijay mangmangyari about adolescence, dagijay issues ti adolescence tapno mapreventaran jay help seeking adolescence health, tapno aywanan da ti bagi da, and health conscious most especially dagijay mangmangayri nga mental health issues. So far so good adda met impact nan ga aware da.”
Effect of the SHOTA Program
A student leader from Abatan National High School said that the benefit of the program is for them to be aware of our environment and the other topics they are discussing.
“Effective naman siya lalo na sa amin na teenagers, kasi yung mga teenagers ngayon hindi aware sa mga education about sa mga teenage pregnancy, kasi yun din yung basis ng SHOTA, para maaware at mabigyan ng education yung teenagers about sa mga ganung bagay,” he stated.
He added that the program is effective because some of the teenagers are not aware of the information about teenage pregnancy. “Iti kakadwak nga youth, especially dagijay istudyante, teenagers. Kayat ko nga ibaga nga agdengeg da nga usto karkaro nu adda symposium. Always take note dagijay ibagbaga ti parents da (To the youth especially, the students and teenagers, I would like to say that you must listen carefully, especially when there is a symposium. Always remember the words of your parents).”
Another student leader added that the youth must engage in this kind of program because the program intends to give us knowledge, especially since we are growing. We need to be aware of what is happening in our environment.
“They should engage themselves sa mga ganyang program since yung intention naman na gawin nila yung program is to give us knowledge lalo na’t lumalaki na tayo kailangan mamulat sa nangyayari sa paligid natin,” he explained. By Saori S. Bayaona
Photo Courtesy: Rural Health Unit of Bauko