AGE

The table below describes the respondents age frequency and percentage. The table below shows that out of 351 respondents 108 or 30.77% belongs to the 25-29 age group having the highest frequency and percentage, followed by 77 or 21.94% under 20-24 age group, followed by 68 or 19.37% from 30-34 age group, then followed by 41 or 11.69% from 35-39 age group. The respondents under 15-19 and 40-44 years old got the same frequency and percentage of 27 and 7.69% and there were 3 respondents under 45-49 years old which is 0.86% of all the respondents.

Findings show that among the 351 respondents, the age 25-29 years old group got the highest frequency, and the age groups 45-49 got the lowest frequency. According to Lowdermilk and Perry (2004), mothers younger than 20 years old usually lack financial resources to support a pregnancy and may not have the maturity to avoid teratogens or to have prenatal care and instruction or follow-up care. Children of these mothers may be at risk for abuse or neglect because of their inadequate knowledge of growth, development, and parenting. During the age of 20 to 40 years old, the woman may be juggling family, home, and care responsibilities, with resulting increases in stress- related conditions.

Table 1 Frequency and Percentage Distribution of Respondents Age

AGE 25 29 20 24 30 34 35 39

FREQUENCY 108 77 68 41

PERCENTAGE 30.77% 21.94% 19.37% 11.68%

40 44 15 19 45 49 TOTAL

27 27 3 351

7.69% 7.69% 0.86% 100.00%

CIVIL STATUS

The table below describes the respondents civil status frequency and percentage. The result illustrates that out of 351 respondents, 201 or 57.26% respondents are married, 111or 31.62% respondents are in a common law status, 18 or 5.13% respondents are single, 17 or 4.84% respondents are separated and 4 or 1.15% respondents are widows.

The findings of the study regarding the civil status of the respondents show that half of them are married. Single parents are more likely to be engaged into health practices compare to married women. This is brought about by the level of anxiety and apprehension experienced by mothers without partners rearing themselves on the foreseeable health threat to their child (Santos, 2007).

Table 2 Frequency and Percentage Distribution of Respondents Civil Status

CIVIL STATUS Married Common Law Single Separated Widow

FREQUENCY 201 111 18 17 4

PERCENTAGE 57.26% 31.62% 5.13% 4.84% 1.15%

TOTAL

351

100.00%

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

The table below describes the respondents educational attainment frequency and percentage. It illustrates that 115 respondents or 32.76% of the respondents are high school graduates, 72 respondents or 20.51% are college undergraduates with no diploma, 52 respondents or 14.81% of the respondents are high school undergraduates or with no diploma, 48 respondents or 13.68% of the respondents are college graduates, 29 respondents or 8.26% are elementary graduates, 13 respondents or 3.70% are vocational graduates, 12 respondents or 3.42% are elementary undergraduates with no diploma, 8 respondents or 2.28% have never been to school, and lastly, 2 respondents or 0.58% of the respondents are vocational undergraduates or with no diploma. The data shows that the high school graduates have the highest percentage of respondents.

It was stated by Littleton and Engerbreston (2005) that the more education the better health status, for both men and women. Education has an important influence on socioeconomic status. Since education is positively associated with health status, persons who have not completed at least high school are higher risk for poor health. Lower levels of education are seen in conjunction with poorer nutrition, decreased access to health, and increase likelihood of risk behaviors.

Table 3 Frequency and Percentage Distribution of Respondents Civil Status

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT High School Graduate

FREQUENCY

PERCENTAGE

115

32.76%

College, No Diploma High School, No Diploma College Graduate Elementary Graduate Vocational Graduate Elementary, No Diploma Never Been to School Vocational, No Diploma TOTAL

72 52 48 29 13 12 8 2 351

20.51% 14.81% 13.68% 8.26% 3.70% 3.42% 2.28% 0.58% 100.00%

MONTHLY INCOME

The table below describes the respondents monthly income frequency and percentage. It shows that out of 351 respondents, most of the respondents monthly income belongs to the P 5,000 to P 9,999 group with a frequency of 118 and a percentage of 33.62%. Next are those who belong to the P10, 000 to P 19,999 group with a frequency of 97 or 27.64%. Next are those who belong to the Less than P 5,000 group with a frequency of 94 or 26.78%. The P 20,000 to P 29,000 group follows with a frequency of 29 or 8.26%. Next is the P 30,000 to P 39,000 group with a frequency of 10 or 2.85%. The P 50,000 to P 59,000 group follows with a frequency of 2 or 0.57%. Lastly the P 90,000 to P 99,999 group comes with the least respondents with a frequency of 1 and a percentage of 0.28%.

Findings show similarity to the study of Santos (2007) in which most parents in the study (Awareness of women regarding newborn screening, a community-based study) belong to the low income bracket which is a possible explanation for a low compliance rate to the newborn screening procedure.

Table 4

Frequency and Percentage Distribution of Respondents Monthly Income MONTHLY INCOME P5,000 to P9,999 P10,000 to P19,999 Less than P5,000 P20,000 to P29,999 P30,000 to P39,999 P50,000 to P59,999 P90,000 to P99,999 TOTAL FREQUENCY 118 97 94 29 10 2 1 351 PERCENTAGE 33.62% 27.64% 26.78% 8.26% 2.85% 0.57% 0.28% 100.00%