Includes bibliographical references

Abstract

Prenatal care is a care given to a pregnant woman starting from the time they visited the health center and received professional care by a healthcare provider, and up until the time she gives birth. The study aimed to understand the reasons associated with the delayed utilization of prenatal care services of teenage mothers currently residing at Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin.

The researcher used a descriptive design in order to obtain the desired data. Casual interviews were done to gather more information. The respondents of the study were the registered pregnant women of Rural Health Unit of Mambajao, Camiguin, They were included in the list from the period of October 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018.

All of the respondents or 100% of this study belonged in the age range of 16-19 years old and all of them were unemployed and single. In terms of religion, most of the respondents 23 or 92% were Roman Catholic and 2 or 8% were Other (Iglesia Ni Cristo and Born Again). As regards on their levels of education, 25 or 100% of pregnant women attained a secondary level of education (high school). In terms to respondent’s income, 25 or 100% of the teenage pregnant women who have had income of less than or equal to 5,000 per month. The reasons associated with the delayed utilization of prenatal care services of teenage mothers, where 13 or 52% of the respondent’s reasons were fear of parents’ response to pregnancy and 12 or 48% were fear of stigma/judgment.

Based on the responses of the respondents, the researcher identified two key themes. Fear of parents or partner’s response and fear of stigma/judgment are the two main reasons associated with the delayed utilization of prenatal care services.

College of Health Sciences Graduate Studies Master of Arts in Nursing with specialization in Nursing Administration and Supervision

Text in English