Jose NMC Sescon, MD FPOGS

Knowledge Attitudes Practices (KAP)
Among OB Gyn Practitioners in the Philippines

Institute for International Education (IIE) Manila Philippines through its Leadership Development Mechanism (LDM) has approved the research survey entitled: Knowledge Attitudes Practices (KAP) among Philippine Obstetrician and Gynecologist Practitioners in the Philippines. The research team includes Dr Jose Narciso Melchor Sescon, MD FPOGS (Remedios AIDS Foundation), Dr Merlita Awit, MD DPOGS ( Women's Health Care Foundation) and Rey de los Reyes, MD FPOGS ( FEU Hospital) All were fellow grantee scholars of the IIE-LDM.

The concept of Filipino OB-GYN clinicians on reproductive health (RH) has not yet been evaluated. The need to determine their level of knowledge, awareness and practices along this line is very important as they are the frontliners in providing health services in the Philippines.

This 60 point survey questionnaire was answered nationwide by OB GYN practitioners who were credited members of the Philippine OB GYN Society (POGS). Close to 600 doctors nationwide participated in this endeavor last November 2003. Strong links with the Community Service Committee of the Philippine Obstetrics Gynecologic Society, Inc. (POGS) has made this initiative a success.

The objectives of the survey are :

1. To determine the proportion of obstetrician gynecologist in the Philippines who are knowledgeable of the different RH elements, its issues and concerns.
2. To identify gaps and issues in different fields of RH among OB GYN practitioners.
3. To make recommendations on how to address this gaps and issues in RH.
4. To determine the level of knowledge on RH of OB-GYN practitioners in the Philippines.

Currently, the research team is on the data encoding phase using EPI Info 6 software. Final paper will soon be released on April 2004. Whatever analysis/recommendations culled from the study will serve as springboard for the next project activities for Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecologic Society (POGS) on matters related to reproductive health. This indeed is a milestone for Remedios in advocating RH with the private sector.