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What do you think are the reasons for the high unmet need of FP in the Philippines?
There is a high unmet need in the Philippines as evidenced by the low percentage of contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR). According to the National Demographic and Health Survey (2017), 49% of unmarried, sexually active women, and 17% of married women have an unmet need for family planning. One important factor that led to this is the lack of accessibility of family planning services, especially in those living in the urban slums. While the World Health Organization (n.d.) says that urban slum dwellers are among the population with a particularly high unmet need for family planning, facilities and services remain insufficient for their access (Ganle et al, 2021). The situation is worsened by the start of the pandemic where resources are allocated to prioritize addressing the surge in the country. The Department of Health (as cited in Villar, 2022) reports that the barriers to the implementation of the RH law that includes the provision of family planning services are insufficient human resources, limited facilities and record-keeping, surveillance and reporting measures, misconceptions and fears concerning immunization, family planning side-effects, HIV stigma, and increased barriers to health care-seeking behaviors due to mobility restrictions and fear of the disease.
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What are ways you can suggest to increase the practice of FP in the country? Give at least 1-2 suggestions.
Now that the COVID situation has improved in the country, family planning services must be resumed and given emphasis. A more effective implementation of the reproductive health law must be observed. Family planning services must be accessible, the resources necessary must be funded and provided. For example, included in the provisions of the reproductive health law is the employment of mobile cars which will be very useful to address this. Managing the costs of contraceptives and making them cheaper if not free can also increase the prevalence of use among women in their reproductive age. Information dissemination on the services that can be availed must also be given attention to, making sure that people are aware of the benefits of accessing family planning services.
References:
National Demographic and Health Survey (2017). https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/PHILIPPINE%20NATIONAL%20DEMOGRAPHIC%20AND%20HEALTH%20SURVEY%202017_new.pdf
World Health Organization. (n.d). Unmet need for family planning. https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/family_planning/unmet_need_fp/en/
Gante, J. Baatiema, L. Ayamah, P. Ofori, C. Ameyaw, E. Seidu, A. Ankoma, A. (2021). Family planning for urban slums in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review of interventions/service delivery models and their impact. https://equityhealthj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12939-021-01518-y
Villar, E. (2022, March 8). Returning priorities. https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2022/03/08/2165669/returning-priorities