2 of 10 overseas DH uninformed on repro diseases - NGO

A migrant workers’ group raised fears on Friday that sexually transmitted infection (STI) and reproductive track infection (RTI) could be a growing health concern among overseas Filipino domestic helpers due to lack of knowledge about these diseases.

Ma. Fe Nicodemus, executive director of Kakammpi (Kapisanan ng mga Kamag-anak ng mga Migranteng Manggagawang Pilipino, Inc.) said that 23 (7.3 percent) of the 302 overseas domestic helpers surveyed in 2005 had no idea about STI and RTI. The group has been observing increasing cases of the ailments among its members.

In simple terms, it means two out of 10 domestic workers did not have sufficient knowledge about diseases affecting their reproductive health.

“Among our members, we have recorded STI cases resulting from induced abortion. The problem alarms us especially that same survey shows that 23 of the respondents indicated pregnancy while working abroad as one of their problems," she said.

“We assisted a domestic helper who got serious RTI because she used a hanger to hook the fetus out of her uterus," she said.

The Action for Health Initiatives, Inc. (Achieve), a health group helping women migrant workers, conducted in 2005 a study entitled, “A Survey of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Status and Needs of Filipino Female Overseas Domestic Workers" in the National Capital Region, Davao City, Cebu City and La Union. A total of 302 respondents were interviewed in the survey aimed to generate baseline data on the current reproductive health situation and needs of overseas Filipino women working as domestic helpers.

The respondents were between the ages of 24 - 44 and majority of them were married. Almost half of the respondents went to college while 33 finished secondary education. Reproductive health concerns identified in the survey include becoming pregnant, 7.3 percent (23), while working abroad. Other ailments include hysterectomy, myoma, breast cyst, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, painful urination, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and induced abortion.

The health group said some overseas domestic helpers are prone to reproductive health problems because of lack of knowledge on reproductive health. Twenty-three of the respondents did not know anything about STI/RTI.

“The findings of the survey are significant because Philippine migration has assumed a woman’s face, with seven out of 10 overseas Filipino workers leaving the country being women," Nicodemus said. - Luis Gorgonio, GMANews.TV

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