| Description: |
This exploratory and descriptive study identifies the effects of the Mandaue City Bantay Banay program on women's health and empowerment. Bantay Banay program is a community-based strategy to combat domestic violence. Using document review and key informant interview, the study examined the organizational profile of the Bantay Banay in terms of goals, objectives, structure, management, funding, activities, services, benefits and external linkages. Thirty women members were interviewed to determine their profile, motivations in joining the program, activities/services, perceived advantages and disadvantages as well as problems encountered and its solutions. The contribution of the Bantay Banay program to women members health and empowerment was also expected. The results showed that Bantay Banay program is a community-based effort to protect women from abusive partner, that was first established in Cebu City, Central Visayas, Philippines in 1991. Because of the success of the program, it was replicated in other provinces of the Visayas region (Bohol, Negros Oriental and Leyte) and Mindanao (Lanao del Norte) and other cities and municipalities of Cebu Province (Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Cordova, Mambaling, Guadalupe, A. Lopez, Sambag II, Calamba, Labangon, Basak, B, Aranas and Mabolo). The Mandaue City Bantay Banay program is a one year project, funded by the Countryside Development Fund of the Congresswoman of the 6th District of Cebu. The selected women members interviewed were middle adult, who married young, mostly Catholic and reached tertiary level of education. The women members were motivated to join the program because they wanted to help women victims of violence. The women's perception regarding the advantages and benefits obtained indicated that they became knowledgeable on the concepts of legal rights. Most women perceived that their membership to the Bantay Banay enhanced their ability to make decision ability to network with other people and increased self-esteem. These indicated that there is an . |