2022 - FEASIBILITY STUDY OF THE MASAYANG PAMILYA TEEN PARENTS WITH BABIES PROGRAM WITHIN A PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SETTING IN THE PHILIPPINES

Session: D03S011 - Mental Health and Adaptation 3
AUTHORS:
Mamauag Bernice Vania (University of the Philippines Visayas ~ Iloilo ~ Philippines) , Reyes Jennel (Ateneo de Manila University ~ Quezon City ~ Philippines) , Alampay Liane (Ateneo de Manila University ~ Quezon City ~ Philippines) , Lachman Jamie (University of Oxford ~ Oxford ~ United Kingdom)
Abstract text:
Teenage pregnancy is associated with adverse health and social outcomes on teenage mothers and their infants. Teenage parents experience more birth complications and mental health and drug problems than older parents, while their children are at risk of poorer physical health and emotional and behavioral problems. There is strong empirical evidence for the effectiveness of parenting support interventions offered to parents of infants in improving sensitive and responsive care, and in ensuring healthy infant development. This study examined the feasibility of the Masayang Pamilya (MaPa) Teen Parents with Babies Program within the primary health care system in the coastal town of Miagao in the Philippines. MaPa Teen Parents with Babies is a culturally adapted group-based program that combines in person sessions and chat sessions for teen parents and their healthy co-parents. Its development follows the Heuristic Framework for the Cultural Adaptation of Intervention. Data gathered from Filipino teen parents, their caregivers, and service providers, and components of evidence-based parenting programs developed in the West were used to inform the program's development. Thirty adolescent parents who are monitored and supported by primary health service providers of the rural health unit participated in the pilot of MaPa Teen Parents with Babies. Primary outcomes of parent wellbeing, infant wellbeing, and parent-infant relationship were evaluated using a single-group, pre-post design. Focus group discussions explored program participants' and facilitators' perceptions of the program's relevance, acceptability, and feasibility. The findings provide preliminary data on the program's efficacy in improving mother and infant wellbeing, and parent-infant relationship, as well as evidence on the programs' feasibility when integrated into a primary care setting. The results inform further refinement and adaptations of the program, prior to a more rigorous evaluation.