Level of Knowledge on the Reproductive Health [RH] Law Among Women in Early Adulthood in Barangay North Poblacion, San Fernando, Cebu

Abstract

Reproductive health is a fundamental right and vital to the well-being of individuals and communities, especially among early adult women. In the Philippines, Republic Act No. 10354, or the Reproductive Health [RH] Law, was enacted in 2012 to provide universal access to RH services, education, and information. Despite this, 44% of young Filipino women reported having no source of reliable reproductive health information (Philippine Statistics Authority [PSA], 2024).

This study assessed the level of knowledge on the RH Law among early adult women in Barangay North Poblacion, San Fernando, Cebu, focusing on maternal and child health services and adolescent reproductive health programs. Using a quantitative descriptive-correlational design, 260 women aged 18 to 40 were selected through stratified and convenience sampling. A  researcher-made questionnaire–validated through expert review and pilot testing– was utilized, and data were analyzed using frequency distributions, chi-square tests, and t-tests. Ethical principles such as informed consent, confidentiality, and voluntary participation were observed.

Findings revealed that 96.92% of respondents had poor knowledge of maternal and child health services, and 98.46% had poor knowledge of adolescent reproductive health programs. Among demographic variables, occupation was the only demographic factor significantly linked to knowledge levels (p < 0.05), suggesting potential influence of employment-related exposure to health information. No significant difference was found between the knowledge scores of the two RH components (t = 1.23, p > 0.05).

The findings reveal a critical knowledge gap regarding the RH Law within the community. To address this, the researchers propose localized and visually engaging infographics tailored to the community's context to improve knowledge. Further recommendations include sustained health education campaigns, collaboration with local health workers and NGOs, and continuous evaluation to enhance RH literacy. These findings underscore the need for culturally tailored, visually engaging health materials—such as infographics—and sustained education campaigns to empower women and advance reproductive rights. For the RH Law’s value is diminished if the very population it aims to protect remains largely unknowledgeable of its provisions.