Undergraduate Thesis

Despite decades of control efforts, STIs still thrive today. There are problems in the effective implementation of control programs because STIs are not just biological and medical problems, but also behavioral, social, political and economic problems- many facets that have not been adequately addressed in the past. This study entitled "Exploring Women's Lived Experience on Sexually Transmitted Infection: A Basis for Proposed Enhance Collaborative Health Promotion and Prevention Program" was initiated in collaboration with the Health Center of Barangay San Dionisio Paran��aque City. This research further determines the lived experience, knowledge and awareness on Sexually Transmitted Infections of those who were enrolled in the HIV/AIDS/STD Prevention and Control Program of Paranaque City under City Ordinance no. 15-12, series of 2014. intensifying the functions of the city social hygiene clinics and creation of Paran��aque City AIDS Council. The researchers believe that nurses play a critical role in educating patients on Sexually Transmitted Infection, screening for disease and providing treatment. Moreover, since nurses are the first line health providers, they are position to advocate health promotion and prevention activities thus, minimize the impact of social stigma by providing informed, confidential and sensitive care of promoting sexual practices through continuous counseling about the Sexually Transmitted Infection problem among women and its proper treatment. This study sought to describe the live experiences of women diagnosed with HIV/AIDS/STD and is seeking help through the local government HIV/AIDS/STD Prevention and Control Program. Further, this also determines the profile and the level of knowledge and awareness among the respondents in terms of (1) Nature and Mode of Transmission, (2) Level of Prevention, and (3) Course of Management. The researchers utilized a sequential explanatory mix method research (Creswell, 2003) characterized by collection and analysis of quantitative data followed by a collection and analysis of qualitative data, further, the used qualitative results help assist in explaining and interpreting the findings of a quantitative study. The researcher secured the approval from the Paran��aque City Health Office to conduct a collaborative study together with the Paranaque Social Hygiene Clinic and Barangay Health Center of San Dionisio. The study consists of 10 women of selected community in Paran��aque City who were currently and actively participating in the program. Further, the researchers were able to secure consent from the respondents and were assured of their confidentiality and anonymity. A self-survey questionnaire were administered among the respondents to determine the profile, awareness and knowledge about STI and then followed by a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) to further explore their answer and experiences. The data were collected, tallied, tabulated and interpreted and analyzed using the Frequency Distribution and Pearson's R. Finding of the study in terms of the profile of the respondents revealed that among the 10 respondents most were aged between 15-45 years old, high school graduates with family income ranging from 5,000- 15,000 monthly. On the level of knowledge, the respondents were highly knowledgeable in terms of the nature and mode of transmission and level of prevention with a weighted mean of 3.54 and 3.71 respectively. On the other hand, they are moderately knowledgeable in terms of the Course of Management of the disease with a weighted mean score of 3.37. On the level of awareness about STI, the respondents were highly aware on the nature and mode of transmission, level of prevention and course of management with a weighted mean of 3.80, 3.90 and 3.70 respectively. (sent with love effect) Moreover, the relationship between the level of awareness and knowledge was negligible correlation existed between Awareness and Knowledge (r=0.02, p=0.95). On their lived experiences, all respondents felt fear, shame, denial that made them experienced anxiety from social stigma. Though attending the program they developed and demonstrate self- realization and eventually accept their condition. The following recommendations were drawn from this research: (1) for the respondent's that they should continue their behavioral modification with regards to their sexual practices. Respondents should recognized that follow up care and clinic visits are vital, regular visit will enable them to have further test as part of their ongoing treatment and health management. (2) for the nurses and other health care providers, they should provide accurate information about sex and STIs, often it is not always presented in a manner designed for young people, specifically on Educational programs focused on Sexually Transmitted Infection, AIDS/HIV and contraception/Family Planning including abstinence, family life education, safer sex, sexual orientation and women's health. Providing information to help people make responsible choices by producing and distributing consumer health pamphlet, (3) for the implementers of the program, it is important to continue Health education about sexually transmitted infections and counseling of both infected and uninfected people, including voluntary counseling and confidential HIV testing, should also be an integral part of any health service and the counseling process should create motivation to change sexual behavior in both infected and uninfected individuals. Further, there should be a seamless continuum between prevention intervention and care. Allocate considerable budget on local services and resources available, the availability of and access to condoms and medicines for treatment of sexually transmitted infections will constitute elements of a full effective response. (4) for future research to conduct same study not only focusing on certain groups to determine how aware and knowledgeable the respondents are to this diseases, know the facts of this diseases therefore subtracting the number of incidence not only here in our country but of the entire world.