Barriers to the implementation of sexual and reproductive health programs for adolescents in Eastern Visayas, Philippines: a thematic synthesis of national policies using a qualitative study

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Objective: To review the implementation of essential reproductive health services in Eastern Visayas, Philippines.

Materials and Methods: We reviewed four national policies through a qualitative research design using a series of key informant interviews conducted with service providers and focus group discussions with service beneficiaries.

Results: There was a gap between the policies and the implementation of reproductive health services in the Eastern Visayas region. This gap is mainly due to the refusal of service providers to cater to teenagers’ needs regarding reproductive health services. This has resulted in teenagers hesitating to seek reproductive health services and related support from primary healthcare facilities. Service beneficiaries have also reported on the unavailability of several reproductive health services in primary healthcare facilities.

Conclusion: The gap between national policies and program implementation must be bridged. This can be achieved by creating culturally-specific policies that can improve the implementation of reproductive health programs in the study areas.