Adherence to Preventive Illness Control Among Filipino Women through an Autonomy Perspective

The focus of this study is the capacity of women to assert themselves within the household and how it may affect the sufficiency of their utilisation of antenatal care and which practitioner to visit. This behaviour regarding choice may well be connected, albeit affected, with relations with their partners and be the demonstration of their household autonomy. Autonomy here is inclusive of education and employment status but also considers other facets as attitude toward intimate partner violence and mobility and economic dependency within the household.

Using regression models, it is found that the usual education and employment for cash indeed affect health-related behaviour but as in Philippine context, number of children ever born affect it as well, but at differing degrees. All these mentioned have particular thresholds that may be positive or negative in effects. What is central is socioeconomic status of the household which is positive in effect.

Results support the oft considered health gradient that access is based on the perception of finances. This becomes the main barrier for women to seek sufficient antenatal care and medically-trained personnel as well. Also, seemingly counter-intuitive findings had lead to having initial interviews with mothers in selected provinces in the country. What is supported by this approach is that traditional views on healthcare shape their views but perceptions of gradients that some types of care are only suitable for those who can afford them.