The document discusses health education in the Philippines and the use of e-learning methods like distance learning, telehealth, and SMS to provide reproductive health information and education. It notes that over 80 million people live in the Philippines, with half in their reproductive years, and over 70% of married women require access to reproductive health information and education. Various e-learning methods being used include distance learning programs, a telehealth network, and an SMS information service. The document outlines challenges and opportunities for expanding access to and utilization of e-learning resources for reproductive health education in the Philippines.

1. Health EducationHealth Education
in the Philippines:in the Philippines:
““EE”” DimensionsDimensions
Angela G.Angela G. SisonSison--Aguilar MDAguilar MD
Clinical Associate Professor, Section of ReproductiveClinical Associate Professor, Section of Reproductive
Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of ObstetricsEndocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics
and Gynecology of the University of the Philippinesand Gynecology of the University of the Philippines
College of Medicine and Philippine General HospitalCollege of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital

2. DemographicsDemographics
Philippine populationPhilippine population
over 80 millionover 80 million
Half of population inHalf of population in
reproductive agereproductive age
groupgroup

3. Why eWhy e--learninglearning
in reproductive health?in reproductive health?
Traditional routes likened toTraditional routes likened to ““carpetcarpet
bombingbombing”” of IECof IEC
Trend of advertising towardsTrend of advertising towards ““nicheniche
marketingmarketing””
Reliance on traditional routes costlyReliance on traditional routes costly
(e.g. schools and mass media)(e.g. schools and mass media)

4. Need for informationNeed for information
70.1% of currently70.1% of currently
married women maymarried women may
require access to IECrequire access to IEC
on reproductiveon reproductive
healthhealth

5. Possible methodsPossible methods
Distance learningDistance learning
Telehealth and health statisticsTelehealth and health statistics
SMS in reproductive healthSMS in reproductive health

6. Possible methodsPossible methods
Distance learningDistance learning
University of theUniversity of the
Philippines Open UniversityPhilippines Open University
18 undergraduate and graduate courses18 undergraduate and graduate courses
8 continuing education courses8 continuing education courses
Dr.Dr. LurendaLurenda SuplidoSuplido--WestergaardWestergaard::
““TXT 700UPOU: Finding Educational Uses forTXT 700UPOU: Finding Educational Uses for
Ubiquitous SMS (Ubiquitous SMS (textingtexting) Technologies) Technologies””

7. Possible methodsPossible methods
Telehealth and healthTelehealth and health
statisticsstatistics
BuddyworksBuddyworks: design and: design and
implementation of aimplementation of a
Telehealth ServicesTelehealth Services
Network for CommunityNetwork for Community
PartnershipPartnership

8. Possible methodsPossible methods
BuddyworksBuddyworks
storestore--andand--forward, webforward, web--based portalbased portal
which serves as a clinical encounterwhich serves as a clinical encounter
space where medical practitionersspace where medical practitioners
based in community, regional, andbased in community, regional, and
provincial hospitals can consult withprovincial hospitals can consult with
experts from the PGH regardingexperts from the PGH regarding
particular casesparticular cases
transmit necessary material includingtransmit necessary material including
data, images, and even video files anddata, images, and even video files and
transmit them to the portal where thetransmit them to the portal where the
expert from PGH can access theexpert from PGH can access the
information at his convenienceinformation at his convenience

9. MethodsMethods
Philippine EvidencePhilippine Evidence--BasedBased
Reproductive MedicineReproductive Medicine
Network (Network (PEBRMNetPEBRMNet) (2003) (2003))
Evidence:Evidence: PEBRMNetPEBRMNet CriticallyCritically
Appraised Topics in 2004Appraised Topics in 2004
focusing initially on contraceptionfocusing initially on contraception
"more and better information to"more and better information to
address their own misconceptionsaddress their own misconceptions
as well as those of their clientsas well as those of their clients““
"Providers need to be armed with"Providers need to be armed with
the facts, based on solid,the facts, based on solid,
documented evidence, and theydocumented evidence, and they
need that information to beneed that information to be
packaged in a way that directlypackaged in a way that directly
addresses patients' concerns andaddresses patients' concerns and
providers' own misconceptions,providers' own misconceptions,
specific to the Philippine context"specific to the Philippine context"

10. Possible methodsPossible methods
SMS in reproductive healthSMS in reproductive health
Private Sector MobilizationPrivate Sector Mobilization
(PRISM) for Family(PRISM) for Family
Planning Project, a 5Planning Project, a 5--yearyear
USAID project will helpUSAID project will help
ensure clients' right toensure clients' right to
information through ainformation through a
mobile phonemobile phone--basedbased
SMSSMS InfotextInfotext serviceservice

11. Possible methodsPossible methods
SMS in reproductive health (PRISM)SMS in reproductive health (PRISM)
Receive daily reminders for them to takeReceive daily reminders for them to take
their dose at the time of day they specifytheir dose at the time of day they specify
InjectablesInjectables users will also be reminded tousers will also be reminded to
get their next injectionget their next injection
Women who have regular 28 day menstrualWomen who have regular 28 day menstrual
cycles can keycycles can key--in information about theirin information about their
menstrual cycle and get back information onmenstrual cycle and get back information on
when they are most/least likely to getwhen they are most/least likely to get
pregnantpregnant

12. UtilizationUtilization
Academe and health professionalsAcademe and health professionals
Adaptation of faculty to the technologyAdaptation of faculty to the technology
Utilization of health professionals of onlineUtilization of health professionals of online
collated and analyzed statistics and othercollated and analyzed statistics and other
evidence based informationevidence based information
Health policy formulation based onHealth policy formulation based on
informationinformation

13. UtilizationUtilization
General populationGeneral population
Students perspective on eStudents perspective on e--learninglearning ((DiezDiez, 2004), 2004)
timetime--efficientefficient
lessens dependency on teachers and allowslessens dependency on teachers and allows
learning process at his own pace; thus, learninglearning process at his own pace; thus, learning
becomes less taxing, and more appealing andbecomes less taxing, and more appealing and
enjoyableenjoyable
gives the student the option to select the kind ofgives the student the option to select the kind of
material appropriate to his level of knowledge andmaterial appropriate to his level of knowledge and
interestinterest

14. UtilizationUtilization
General populationGeneral population
Access to eAccess to e--learninglearning
Internet some 7 million in 2005Internet some 7 million in 2005
BaguioBaguio CityCity -- 30,000 Internet users, 50 Internet cafes30,000 Internet users, 50 Internet cafes
Cagayan De OroCagayan De Oro -- 30,000 Internet users, 50 Internet cafes30,000 Internet users, 50 Internet cafes
CatanduanesCatanduanes -- 10,000 Internet users, 2 Internet cafes10,000 Internet users, 2 Internet cafes
CebuCebu -- 300,000 Internet users, 400 Internet cafes300,000 Internet users, 400 Internet cafes
Davao CityDavao City -- 210,000 Internet users, 180 Internet cafes210,000 Internet users, 180 Internet cafes
DumagueteDumaguete -- 100,000 Internet users, 50 Internet cafes100,000 Internet users, 50 Internet cafes
IliganIligan CityCity -- 10,000 Internet users, 20 Internet cafes10,000 Internet users, 20 Internet cafes
Iloilo CityIloilo City -- 25,000 Internet users, 200 Internet cafes25,000 Internet users, 200 Internet cafes
ManilaManila -- 1,800,000 Internet users, 300 Internet cafes1,800,000 Internet users, 300 Internet cafes
OzamizOzamiz CityCity -- 10,000 Internet users, 20 Internet cafes, 5 ISPs10,000 Internet users, 20 Internet cafes, 5 ISPs
TaclobanTacloban CityCity -- 10,000 Internet users, 20 Internet cafes10,000 Internet users, 20 Internet cafes
ZamboangaZamboanga CityCity -- 10,000 Internet users, 20 Internet cafes10,000 Internet users, 20 Internet cafes
AlbayAlbay -- 90,000 Internet users, 20 Internet cafes90,000 Internet users, 20 Internet cafes
BatangasBatangas -- 150,000 Internet users, 30 Internet cafes150,000 Internet users, 30 Internet cafes
IloiloIloilo -- 30,000 Internet users30,000 Internet users

15. UtilizationUtilization
General populationGeneral population
Access to eAccess to e--learninglearning
CellphoneCellphone (Castro, 2006)(Castro, 2006)
In the year 2004, there wereIn the year 2004, there were
around 32.9 million cell phonearound 32.9 million cell phone
users giving a ratio of 39.85users giving a ratio of 39.85
cell phones per 100 personscell phones per 100 persons
Compared to a ratio of 4.16Compared to a ratio of 4.16
subscribed telephone landsubscribed telephone land
lines per 100 personslines per 100 persons
ComputersComputers
267 students per 1 computer267 students per 1 computer
(Trinidad, 2002)(Trinidad, 2002)

16. Future directionsFuture directions
The demand for access to IEC materialsThe demand for access to IEC materials
on reproductive health is high, some 8.7on reproductive health is high, some 8.7
million women among the priority targetsmillion women among the priority targets
of such a campaignof such a campaign
Resources abound locally withResources abound locally with
international linkages with regardsinternational linkages with regards
material for such a campaignmaterial for such a campaign

17. Future directionsFuture directions
Various groups with a multitude ofVarious groups with a multitude of
strategies are involved in such anstrategies are involved in such an
endeavor.endeavor.
Public as well as private sector initiativesPublic as well as private sector initiatives
abound but are largely independent ofabound but are largely independent of
each othereach other

18. Future directionsFuture directions
Traditional health faculty as well asTraditional health faculty as well as
practicing health professionals need to bepracticing health professionals need to be
reoriented, skills upgraded, andreoriented, skills upgraded, and
methodologies and practice adapted tomethodologies and practice adapted to
improve utilization of eimprove utilization of e--resources inresources in
reproductive health as well as theirreproductive health as well as their
participation in the campaign forparticipation in the campaign for
reproductive health education among thereproductive health education among the
populacepopulace

19. Future directionsFuture directions
In terms of technological hardwareIn terms of technological hardware
access, the Philippines has a largeaccess, the Philippines has a large
potential for short messaging servicespotential for short messaging services
(SMS) applications in e(SMS) applications in e--health and is thishealth and is this
is currently being explored and developedis currently being explored and developed
by individual innovatorsby individual innovators

20. Future directionsFuture directions
Access to IEC to women who expressedAccess to IEC to women who expressed
need for such assistance can beneed for such assistance can be
improved using current technology,improved using current technology,
expansion of coverage can beexpansion of coverage can be
accomplished in two waysaccomplished in two ways——increasingincreasing
access to those who request IEC andaccess to those who request IEC and
delivering IEC to those who need.delivering IEC to those who need.