Answer the following questions and post your answers here. Cite references if possible.
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What is your opinion about the practice of family planning? Are you for it or against it?
I am in favor of the practice of family planning. According to the Department of Health (2021), family planning is defined as having the desired number of children and when you want to have them through the use of safe and effective methods, whether natural or artificial. It provides several benefits not only to the mother, but rather the whole family.
Women who give birth to more than 4 children are at an increased risk for maternal mortality. In relation to this, the proper spacing of giving birth to children is 3 to 5 years apart. Family planning is vital as it protects the mother’s health against any pregnancy-related health risks. Moreover, it also allows her to recover or regain her health after delivery.
Aside from these, family planning also contributes to the betterment of the family as it allows couples to work on their financial security, thus allowing them to build a family and raise children that are well loved and taken care of. Additionally, mothers are more likely to produce healthy children if childbirth is properly timed.
I believe that being able to make decisions regarding the welfare of the family is a human right and that everyone should have access to it. Family planning is not only an issue of having freedom but also central to empowering women, attaining sustainable development as well as reducing and, hopefully, eliminating poverty.
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Are you in favor of the Reproductive Health Law and its provisions? Elaborate your answer
I am in favor of the Reproductive Health Law and its provisions. The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 guarantees universal and free access to contraceptives for all. Aside from this, it also mandates the teaching of reproductive health education in schools and recognizes the rights of women in reproductive healthcare. This is greatly beneficial especially to the impoverished families, who most often have many children, as they will be given access to reproductive knowledge and support.
I believe that the RH law is needed in a conservative country like the Philippines so that Filipinos can have better insights regarding reproductive health. Aside from this, the law enables women to gain control of their bodies as they are now more empowered to make decisions regarding their health. However, I think that this law is not being executed properly as there are constraints. Most provisions were either struck down or not effectively implemented. As such, there are areas that need to be revisited.
References:
Department of Health. (2021). What is family planning?. Doh.gov.ph. https://doh.gov.ph/faqs/What-is-family-planning