Rationale:

Filipino women's lives are changing rapidly as a result of improvements in

education, the spread of mass media, increases in the proportions of women
working and the growing acceptance of a larger role in society. In school, boys
are often elected to organizational positions such as President and Vice-President,
while the girls are either members or holding treasurer positions. However, the
trend has changed and girls tend to be more or even sometimes the only ones
elected or nominated in all positions. This has been due to a change of mindset
towards the female gender that is now regarded as more hardworking, well-
versed and dedicated than their male counterparts.

Women for both physiological and sociological reasons are more vulnerable
than men to reproductive health problems. Reproductive health problems,
including maternal mortality and morbidity, represent a major-but preventable-
cause of death and disability for women in developing countries.

Many women suffer and die as a result of complications related to

childbirth. More than 40% of all maternal deaths occur in five developing
countries: Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Papua New
Guinea and the Philippines (http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/rib/rib1-3.pdf).

Urban Society differs from that of Rural Society. Urban areas are equipped
with all the modern amenities. The modern day facilities like the internet,
telephone, television and satellite communication facilities are widely available in
the urban areas (Buzzle.com). However, people in rural areas live in a close
proximity of nature. Due to a relatively lesser number of people inhabiting the
rural areas, the rural parts are not overcrowded by people.

People in an urban areas and rural areas surely differ as to their culture,
beliefs, values and understandings because of the physical environment that
influences them.

In the Philippines today, we have this, what we call RH Bill that is being
considered by the Filipino lawmakers to promote economic development and
improve access to healthcare, particularly Reproductive Health care. It is stated in
the guiding principle of the Reproductive Health Bill which was authored by Hon.
Edcel C. Lagman that “gender equality and women empowerment are central
elements of reproductive health and population development. It means, that in
order to mitigate the population growth rate in the Philippines there is a need to
focus on the needs and wants of women.

The researchers wanted to hear women's voices regarding this issue.

Because the researchers believe that there should be equality among men and
women, and in order to meet this equality, women should be given the right to
decide in planning births and in achieving their family-goals and the extent of
their use of contraception.

In connection with that, it is by virtue that the researcher would like to

conduct a study regarding the perception of rural and urban women on
Reproductive Health Bill.

Theoretical Background:

This study is anchored on the Evolutionary Theory in which it focuses on the

women. According to this theory men and women have evolved differently to
fulfill their different and complementary functions, which are necessary for
survival. They suggest that behavioral differences between men and women stem
from different sexual and reproductive strategies that have evolved to ensure that
men and women are able to efficiently reproduce and effectively pass on their
genes.
 Women should be given the chance to act and live their lives according to
what they want. In this study, women are the priorities of the researcher. That
their voices should be heard by the lawmakers regarding the Reproductive Health
Bill, because it is them who suffer on the consequences of bearing the child for
9months.

According to Devine Theory, human persons are created in the image and
likeness of God, have the power of free choice. In order to create beings to whom
he could give his very own life, God created persons who have the power to make
or break their own lives by choices of others.

Human persons have the capacity to determine themselves and their lives
through their own free choices. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church declares:
God created man a rational being, conferring on him the dignity of a person who
can initiate and control his own action.

It is eloquently describe here that human freedom of choice is our power to

create ourselves and survive. All things are subject to change and to becoming
never remained constant. Human life is always subject to change; it needs to be
born ever anew.

This theory explains that human beings have the capacity of free choice.
They can freely decide what to do with their lives for their survival without
interfering others. Human beings’ actions and choices should not be dictated from
others. As a rational being, human knows what is right from what is wrong for
them. In other words women as part of the human persons, their voices should
be heard by the lawmakers for it is them who are actually the main focus of this
Reproductive Health Bill. The Church and the Lawmakers should consider
women’s decision as to whether or not pass the Bill into law.
 It is stated in this theory that “all things are subject to change and never be
remained constant; human life is always subject to change; it needs to be born
anew”. Which means, as time goes by, people multiply that resulted to the
overcrowding of our country. Life before, now and in the near future is different.
There should really be a change for the betterment of everyone.

Gestalt theory discusses how we perceive objects in our environment.

According to this theory, human’s minds are affected by where they are and by
what surrounds them. Human being does not perceive things by their own,
human’s mind are just “part of the whole”.

Human beings are viewed as open systems in active interaction with their
environment. According to Wertheimer in 1924, there are wholes, the behavior of
which is not determined by that of their individual elements, but where the part
processes are themselves determined by the intrinsic nature of the whole.

This theory explains people perceive things depending on the things that
surround them. We view things through the influence of other people, through the
messages that we receive from our surroundings. Human’s ideas and beliefs
changed whenever it encounters different beliefs and ideas from its environment.

If you are living in an environment wherein people interact so rarely, then

your perception on things are different from those who live in a community
wherein people meet in the road almost every minute. So, if there are two persons
from different environment and ask the same situational question, their answer
would be different for the reason that they grow up from different surroundings.

Statement of the Problem:

This study will determine the perception of rural and urban women on
reproductive health bill from selected Barangays of Cebu City.
 To elucidate the main problem of the study, the following sub questions
were formulated:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 Age
1.2 Age when she got married
1.3 Number of Children
1.4 Educational Attainment
1.5 Religion
1.6 Combine Income

2. How do the respondents (rural and urban women) perceived Reproductive

Health Bill in terms of:

2.1 poverty;
2.2 life and;
2.3 women empowerment

3. What recommendations can be propose base on the result of the study?

Significance of the Study:

This study will be conducted to give information about how rural and urban
women understand the Reproductive Health Bill. These are the various person
that will benefit from this study:

The Government as the pillar of our country will be able to gain knowledge
from this research output on how women even from different level of society
agree and are willing to pass Reproductive Health Bill into Law.
 The Barangays will be able to use these collective ideas from its citizens in
order to help the passage of the Bill.

Youth and Students serves as the hope of tomorrow through this research
output, they be aware how different married life, because Love is not the only one
to be considered in marriage, reproductive health consciousness play a big role in
a relationship.

Women will gain more knowledge on how to prioritize women’s rights and
decisions regarding their reproductive health.

Teachers will get more information to share and teach to their students
about how women from different levels of society differ on their perception of the
same issue.

Future Researchers may use this as their guide on their study specifically
on the issue about reproductive Health. It can help them resolve and support
their study related to this.

Definition of Terms:

Perception- refers to the understanding of the respondents to

Reproductive Health Bill.

Rural- refers to the women living in are away from the city technological
advancement and not overcrowded by people.

Urban- refers to the women living in an are wherein there is technical

advancement and its overcrowded by people.
 Reproductive Health Bill- is a Philippine Bill aiming to guarantee universal
access to methods and information on birth control and maternal care.

Research Methodology

Research Design:

Research Environment:
This study will be conducted at Basak Pardo, Cebu City.
Basak-Pardo has a land area of 52 hectares and 30% of land area is being
utilized as rice fields. The population as of 2002 according to the National
Statistics Office is 14,289. Voting population of 6,780. The butterfly Sanctuary of
the late Professor Julian Jumalon is one of the tourist attractions of this Barangay.
A mosaic picture is being made out of butterfly wings. This Barangay leads in the
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the application of e-
governance.

Research Respondents:
The research respondents will be the women residents of Barangay
Bolocboloc, Barili Cebu and Basak Pardo Cebu City.
The respondents will be the married women in the province of Barili and
Pardo Cebu City, who are 18- 50 years old and have children.

Research Instrument:
A researcher made questionnaire will be used in gathering significant
information with regards to the matter at hand; the perceptions of rural and
urban women on Reproductive Health Bill from selected Barangays.
The questionnaire consists of two parts that are both relevant in gathering
information of the study.
The first part is the socio- demographic part of the questionnaire aimed to
identify the respondents in terms of age, age when she got married, number of
children, educational attainment, religion and combined income.
The second part, aimed to know the women’s perception on Reproductive
Health Bill in terms of poverty, life and women empowerment.

Research Procedures:
Gathering of Data
A letter of transmittal stated the request for the approval of the study will
be submitted to the Barangay Captains, and the letter for the respondents will be
circulated. The final forms of questionnaires will be reproduced according to the
number of respondents identified in this study. The copies will be strictly and
personally be given to the selected women of Barangay Bolocboloc, Barili Cebu
and Basak Pardo, Cebu City.

Treatment of Data
Frequencies and percentage will be used for the profile of the respondents
in terms of age, age when she got married, number of children, educational
attainment, religion, combined income and how they will perceive the
Reproductive Health Bill.

Formula:
P= f/n x 100

Where:
P= percentage
F= frequency
N= number of cases
 CURRICULUM VITAE

Personal Data:

Name: Flora Mae A. Carzano

Course & Year: AB-Political Science-3
Gender: Female
Home address: Basak Pardo, Katangkungan 11, Cebu City
City Address: Basak Pardo, Katangkungan 11, Cebu City
Contact Number: 09233762959
Place of Birth: Mantalungon Dalaguete, Cebu
Nationality: Filipino
Civil Status: Single

Educational Background:

Elementary: Bolocboloc Elementary School

High School: Teotimo Abellana Sr. Memorial High School

Tertiary: Southwestern University

 CURRICULUM VITAE

Personal Data:

Name: Azisa A. Samad

Course & Year: AB-Political Science-2
Gender: Female
Home address: Traveler'r Pension House, Manalili St. Cebu City
City Address: Ceanurle Subdivision Camague St. Cebu City
Contact Number: 09233762959
Place of Birth: Mercy Community Hospital Iligan City
Nationality: Filipino
Civil Status: Single

Educational Background:

Elementary: Balolod Chico Central Elementary School, M.C

High School: St. Therese Academy, I.C

Tertiary: Southwestern University

 CURRICULUM VITAE

Personal Data:

Name: Dephany T. Cabadunga

Course & Year: AB-Political Science-3
Gender: Female
Home address: Bulacao, Talisay, Cebu City
City Address: San Antonio, Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay Province
Contact Number: 09266606252
Place of Birth: San Antonio, Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay Province
Nationality: Filipino
Civil Status: Single

Educational Background:

Elementary: Tugop Elementary School

High School: San Antonio National High School

Tertiary: Southwestern University

PERCEPTION OF RURAL AND URBAN WOMEN ON
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BILL OF SELECTED
BARANGAYS IN CEBU

RESEACHERS:

AZISA A. SAMAD
DEPHANY T. CABADUNGA
FLORA MAE A. CARZANO

ADVISER:

DR. VICTORIO Y. SAQUILAYAN

 Transmittal Letter to the Barangay

Hon. Dave Tumulak

Barangay Captain
Barangay Basak Pardo, Cebu City

Dear Hon. Tumulak,

We, the Political Science student of Southwestern University is conducting a

research study entitled “Perception of women on Reproductive Health”. This
research study is one of our requirements for graduation.

In connection with this, we are asking your permission to allw us conduct

the study in your Barangay which is tha Basak Pardo, Cebu City. The result of this
study will help

Your favorable response will be highly appreciated.

Very Truly Yours,

Azisa Samad
Researcher

Dephany Cabadunga
Researcher

Flora Mae Carzano

Researcher
Noted by:
Dr. Victorio Saquilayan
Research Adviser

Dr. Ma. Kathleen C. Tiglao

Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Letter to the Respondents

Respondents;

We, the Political Science students of Southwestern University are currently

conducting a study on “Perception of women on Reproductive Health Bill” as a
requirement for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

In connection with this, we would like to ask your permission in the

participation of our study.

We hope that you can help us by answering the instrument sincerely and
truthfully. We assure that your answers will be kept confidential.

Thank You Very Much!

Very Truly Yours,

Azisa Samad
Researcher

Dephany Cabadunga
Researcher

Flora Mae Carzano

Researcher
Noted by:
Dr. Victorio Saquilayan
Research Adviser

Dr. Ma. Kathleen C. Tiglao

Dean, College of Arts and Sciences