What is your opinion about the practice of family planning? Are you for it or against it?
I am for the practice of family planning. Family planning is defined as having the preferred number of children by the couple and deciding when to have them through the utilization of safe and effective modern methods (Department of Health, n.d.). Family planning provides options to couples and families and has a lot of health benefits. It allows the family to space the interval of the birth of their children according to their capacity to provide care and financial support. This gives the mother more time to recover and regain health after previous childbirth, care for the family, and pursue her advancements. The father is also given more time to care for the family and pursue his advancements. The breadwinner of the family can better plan the budget and provide for the needs of the family. The current child/children can also be given sufficient support, care, and attention. The practice of family planning promotes the well-being and productivity of the whole family and supports their right in making informed decisions. Hence, I am in favor of the practice of it.
Are you in favor of the Reproductive Health Law and its provisions? Elaborate your answer
Yes, I am in favor of the Reproductive Health Law and its provisions. RA 10354 upholds every person’s right to make informed decisions on the choice for the FP method and determination of the preferred family size. It also upholds universal access to affordable, effective, and quality RH care and services, dissemination of factual information and education on RH, and access to the poor and marginalized (Commission on Population and Development, n.d.). The incidences of unintended pregnancies, teenage pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and unmet needs for family planning in the country remain high. Interviews with indigenous women who live in geographically isolated areas with limited health services, education, and economic opportunities showed that many women viewed family planning as a path away from poverty (Villamor, 2018). The provisions of the RH law promote and protect the reproductive health of the people by giving them choices. The implementation of the law addresses issues on the accessibility of safe and effective family planning methods, elimination of discriminatory practices that infringe on the person's reproductive rights, protection of the family's rights in making informed decisions, and reducing incidences of unwanted/unplanned pregnancies, which sometimes lead to unsafe abortion, poor health outcomes, and reduced financial capacity for the family.
References
Responsible parenthood and reproductive health (RPRH)- general information. Official Website of POPCOM Region VIII. (n.d.). https://rpo8.popcom.gov.ph/responsible-parenthood-and-reproductive-health-rprh-general-information/
What is family planning? Department of Health website. (n.d.). https://doh.gov.ph/faqs/What-is-family-planning
Villamor, M. (2018, May 17). Expanding family planning choices for women in the Philippines. United Nations Population Fund. https://www.unfpa.org/news/expanding-family-planning-choices-women-philippines