What is your opinion about the practice of family planning? Are you for it or against it?
A couple who are deciding to settle down and create a family should think of it thoroughly first and prepare as it does not only affect their lives, but also the lives of their future children. Family planning aims to guide and support couples’ decisions on having children, specifically how many children do they want, and when do they want them. It offers education on responsible parenthood, counseling on birth spacing, and knowledge on birth control methods. When the couple had a proper family planning, it will benefit both of them including their children. The mother will be able to regain her health after delivery because of proper birth spacing and she can give enough time to care and support for herself, her children and her husband. For the father, the burden and responsibility of providing for the family is lightened, and same as the mother, have time for himself and his family. Lastly for the children, they will be born healthy because of a healthy mother, and they will be able to receive all the care that they need (DOH, n.d.). Furthermore, family planning also minimizes pregnancy complications, reduces teenage pregnancies, decreases maternal and child mortality, and prevents sexually-transmitted infection (TMC, 2020). With these as the benefits of family planning, I can say that I strongly support it.
Are you in favor of the Reproductive Health Law and its provisions? Elaborate your answer.
The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 or RH Law provides universal and free access to methods on contraception, fertility control, and reproductive health care services such as sex education and maternal care. It allows even those in marginalized sectors of our society to benefit from free and readily available contraceptives found in any government health centers, therefore decreasing unintended pregnancies and maternal and child mortality (CRR, 2014). Not only does it focus on contraception, it also guarantees maternal and child health nutrition and breastfeeding, elimination of sexual and gender-based violence against women and children, prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion clients, prevention of sexually-transmitted diseases, counseling on adolescent reproductive health, treatment of reproductive tract cancers, infertility, and dysfunction, and the management of mental health of reproductive health care (Cabral, 2013). I am in favor of the RH Law because it can improve the well-being of families and the community. It helps provide safety for women and children and it greatly diminished the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases especially HIV and AIDS.
REFERENCES
Cabral, E. (2013). Reproductive Health Law in the Philippines. e-ISSN.
CRR. (2014, August 4). Philippine Supreme Court Upholds Historic Reproductive Health Law. Retrieved from Center for Reproductive Rights: https://reproductiverights.org/philippine-supreme-court-upholds-historic-reproductive-health-law/
DOH. (n.d.). What are the Benefits of Using Family Planning. Retrieved from Department of Health: https://doh.gov.ph/faqs/What-are-the-benefits-of-using-family-planning
TMC. (2020, May 4). Importance of Family Planning. Retrieved from The Medical City: https://www.themedicalcity.com/news/family-planning-basic-human-right
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