What do you think are the reasons for the high unmet need of FP in the Philippines?
According to the PSA health survey last 2017, there is a total demand of 71% among married women for family planning but only 57% of this were met. I think one of the reasons why there is an unmet need for FP is due to the lack of accessibility of family planning commodities. PSA noted that 56% of modern contraceptive method users obtain their supply from the public sector. However, I do not think that all barangays in the country, especially in remote areas, have sufficient supply of contraceptives for their constituents. Moreover, as the other 44% get their FP supplies from private companies, the high price is surely a deciding factor.
Another reason may stem from the lack of opportunities for family planning counseling. In the study done by Nagai and his colleagues, they found that 72.6% out of 1664 visits reported by women were missed opportunities for family planning. I think in the eyes of many Filipinos, FP is not something high on their priority list. Moreso if they only earn enough to live by that they would rather spend their time earning rather than attending counseling sessions.
What are ways you can suggest to increase the practice of FP in the country? Give least 1-2 suggestions.
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Free delivery of FP commodities - as we enter a more technologically era, FP accessing commodities should not be limited to face to face visits but rather have the option to be delivered for free to willing users.
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Supply security - to cater to the Filipino population of reproductive age, the quantity and quality of FP commodities must be secured by the government or LGU’s.
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Conduct FP counseling sessions in work places - offices, establishments, and other workplaces should have FP seminars or webinars for their workers. FP would not only ensure the health of their employees, but would also educate and empower them, improving their work performance and thus creating a better society for all.
REFERENCES:
Nagai, M., Bellizzi, S., Murray, J., Kitong, J., Cabral, E. I., & Sobel, H. L. (2019). Opportunities lost: Barriers to increasing the use of effective contraception in the Philippines. PLOS ONE, 14(7), e0218187. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218187
Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey. (2017). https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/PHILIPPINE%20NATIONAL%20DEMOGRAPHIC%20AND%20HEALTH%20SURVEY%202017_new.pdf