Page 108 - GS_Journal_2016_back2back with agenda cover

UCU GS Research Journal
NEWBORN SCREENING PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH:
AN ASSESSMENT
CATHERINE S. SURIL

This study determined the Newborn Screening Program of the Department of Health
as perceived by the mothers and health care providers and what program can be proposed to
improve the realization, awareness and implementation of Newborn Screening Program to the
City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
Most mothers belong to the age bracket of 26-30 and fifty-five under the age bracket
of 21-25 years old, one hundred seventy-one under the civil status bracket of married; one
hundred twenty-nine are high school graduate and thirty-four with high school level in terms
of educational attainment; 89 or 42.8% with child who undergone newborn screening; 112 or
53.8% with status of occupation of not employed; and 111 or 53.4% with monthly income of
below 5000. Meanwhile, health care providers involved in the study were midwives, nurse and
doctor; college graduate in terms of educational attainment; have trainings/seminars attended
within the past 2 years; and with monthly income of 20001-25000.
Overall, on the extent of knowledge of mothers on the importance of NBS, it was
found out to be moderately aware. It revealed that the mothers need to know more about
NBS and its advantages. On the other hand, on the factors affecting the realization of NBS, it
denotes that the mothers lack the financial aspect in the submission for NBS as reflected on their
monthly income. In terms of monitoring the program, all the indicators were similarly rated with
a descriptive equivalent of often. Along evaluation, all stated indicators were also rated the same
with a descriptive equivalent of often. It suggests that there are still things to be done to improve
the monitoring of the program. Along factors affecting the realization of NBS, all the indicators
were given a descriptive equivalent of never. It goes to show that in these areas, the health care
providers were given all the necessary preparation and trainings on the program. Findings also
indicate that there were significant differences in the extent of knowledge on the importance
of newborn screening across age, civil status, educational attainment, number of children who
have undergone newborn screening and monthly income. Moreover, the study showed that the
extent of information rendered by the health care providers is not significantly related to their
position as revealed in the r-values with significance values which are higher than the set .05
level of significance. Also, the extent of information rendered by the health care providers is not
significantly related to their monthly income as suggested by the r-values for program objectives,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation, respectively.
It is recommended that further assessment on the Newborn Screening Program of the
Department of Health and provision of appropriate plan on NBS program should be done.

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