Challenges and coping strategies of rural health midwives in the delivery of family planning services in Indang, Cavite during pandemic / by Jenjirlyn D. Belas, Jezzel C. Castino, Rose Ann S. Dela Cruz and Jessa O. Porquedo.

Thesis (Bachelor of Science in Midwifery) Cavite State University.

Includes bibliographical references.

College of Nursing (CON)

BELAS, JENJIRLYN D., DELA CRUZ, ROSE ANN S., CASTINO, JEZZEL C.,
PORQUEDO, JESSA O. Challenges and Coping Strategies of Rural Health Midwives in the
Delivery of Family Planning Services in Indang, Cavite during Pandemic. Undergraduate
Thesis. Bachelor of Science in Midwifery. Cavite State University, Indang, Cavite. June
2022. Adviser: Prof. Lei Anne B. Rupido.
The research was carried out in the Rural Health Unit of Indang, Cavite, from April to May
2022, covering the peak of the pandemic from March to December 2020. It was done to identify
the challenges and coping strategies of rural health midwives in providing family planning
services during a pandemic. The study specifically aimed to 1) describe the profile of rural health
midwives in Indang, Cavite in terms of age, gender, marital status, education, length of
midwifery practice, and number of years working as a midwife in Indang Rural Health Unit
(IRHU), Roles and responsibilities of Rural Health Midwives; 2) identify the challenges
encountered by participants in the delivery of Family Planning Services to the communities in
Indang, Cavite during the COVID-19 pandemic; and 3) determine the coping strategies
commonly used by participants to deal with the challenges they faced. The research questions
raised in this study were addressed using a descriptive research design and qualitative
methodology. The study included seven (7) rural health midwives who worked at IRHU in 2021.
They were all females ages 27 to 53. Four of them are single. Two have been in midwifery
practice for two years, two for ten years, one for sixteen years, and two for thirty years. In terms
of years working at Indang RHU, three midwives were employed for two years, while the other
four had been there for three, four, five, and six years, respectively. Participants were primarily
responsible for providing family planning services to the communities, such as immunization of
infants and children under the DOH's Expanded Program on Immunization: delivery of FP
methods; maternal and child health services such as prenatal and post-partum check-ups;
nutrition education to mothers and infants; monitoring the growth and development of 0-71
months old children; and provision of health education and counseling programs to clients.
Furthermore, during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were deployed to respond to the Covid-19
Pandemic units within the municipality of Indang, with a focus on maternal and newborn health
as part of the overall pandemic health response. They were also tasked with dealing with
COVID-19 patients, administering vaccines, monitoring vital signs, and caring for the sick. The
findings of the study revealed that midwives of Indang RHU are generally female with bachelor's
degree with varied ages and years of service at Indang RHU. Their primary responsibilities
include the delivery of family planning services to the communities. However, during COVID-19
pandemic they did not only provide FP services to the communities but were also deployed to
respond to Covid-19 Pandemic units within the municipality of Indang, such as administering
vaccines to Indang residents, monitoring their vital signs, handling COVID-19 patients, and
caring for those who are sick. Based on the significant findings of the study, it can be inferred
that midwives in Indang RHU have faced many challenges particularly during the period of

COVID- 19 pandemic. These major challenges include constant fear of infection from COVID-
19 virus for them and for their families, shortage of staff, heavy workload, shortage of FP

commodities and supplies, discrimination from community and conflict with peers. These
challenges were bravely faced by the midwives during pandemic who were not only providing
FP services to the communities but were also deployed as frontline responders during the
pandemic. In sum, the participant's faith in the Almighty God, their high sense of duty, positive
disposition in life and love for their family has empowered them to overcome the struggles they
went through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Submitted to the University Library 09/14/2022 T-9010