Anecdotal experiences during data gathering on research about factors affecting the behavioral intention of adolescent girls to discuss sex-related topics with their mothers
Victorena II A Diesta
University of the Philippines, Philippines
: Androl Gynecol: Curr Res
Abstract
My undergraduate thesis was a highly sensitive topic not only because it talks about reproductive health, but more so because it is about “adolescent” reproductive health. Knowing full well that this might affect both the quality and quantity of my respondents, I opted to deliver a parent’s permit through the class advisers of the randomly selected respondents, hoping that when I arrive there, I would just have to collect the answered forms. However, it turns out that around half of the respondents weren’t permitted by their parents to answer because they were allegedly still “too young” for these things. The experience has only confirmed how stigmatized “sex” as a topic and how Filipinos still perceive as something that should not be talked about within the family.
Biography
Victorena II A Diesta has always been passionate about reproductive health since third grade, when her mother started educating her about sex as soon as she started asking questions. Ms. Diesta is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Development Communication in the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna and her undergraduate thesis has won a bronze medal for Best Undergraduate Thesis from the Association of Development Educators and Practitioners in 2017. She represented her country at the 2016 International Girls’ Health Student Writing Competition in Seoul, South Korea.
E-mail: e: vadiesta@up.edu.ph
