By Raymart Escopel
ILOILO City – To improve their healthcare services through research programs, St. Paul’s Hospital Iloilo (SPHI) has partnered with the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) USA, Department of Anthropology for a research venture.
The said research venture is entitled “Iloilo Social and Physical Well-being of Parents Study.”
The respondents of the research are parents of the patients of the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive-Care Unit, Cardinal Dougherty Memorial Annex and Mother Antoine Center Units who are purposely selected.
The research started on July 4 and will run until July 15.
The research aims to discover dietary breastfeeding practices and the social support (spouse, family, friends, and church) of the said respondents through interviews.
The medical staff of SPHI will also participate in the research by providing information regarding the best practices for mothers and advices they usually give to new parents as well as common concerns of mothers in Iloilo.
Moreover, the interview has the goal of gaining cross-cultural understanding on how new mothers adapt to the changes they experience in terms of their daily schedules, romantic relationships, friendship, and diet.
To formally launch the research program, a simple welcome program was held at Marie Micheau Function Hall in July 4. It was highlighted by lectures from SPHI specialists which includes Dr. Gay Margaret Lavalle who discussed SPHI OB-GYNE Social Services; Dr. Joseph Aldric Gaspar who talked about SPHI Lactation Program and Dr. Francisco Praire who lectured on Medical Nutrition and Counselling.
On their part, research team head Prof. Escasa Dorne, Ph. D. who is also Assistant Professor of the Department of Anthropology of UCCS, USA, said she aspires to introduce to her students the livelihood outside US and train them to work with other cultures to develop and practice cultural sensitivity, learn to work with various settings and know how to communicate effectively despite language barriers.
SPHI expressed their gladness for having been chosen by UCCS, USA as their venue of research as it coincides with their desire to engage in research awareness and advocacy.
It is also in line with the hospital’s aim of keeping its identity as a premier hospital known to be the leading option of the Ilonggos in terms of quality and excellent healthcare services./PN
