What do you think are the reasons for the high unmet need of FP in the Philippines?
According to WHO (n.d.), women with unmet need are those who are fecund and sexually active but are not using any method of contraception, and report not wanting any more children or wanting to delay the next child. The concept of unmet need points to the gap between women's reproductive intentions and their contraceptive behavior.
A study conducted by Nagai et al. (2019) was able to identify several barriers to accessing family planning services observed in the country. One barrier is the social norm that discourages the use of contraception among unmarried women. Moreover, infrequent sex was commonly stated as a reason why women with an unintended pregnancy did not use modern methods. Among married women with an unmet need, inappropriate health concerns are their reason for not using modern methods, and these include weight loss, chemical toxicity due to prolonged use, excessive bleeding, the buildup of blood if menstruation stops, loss of physical strength, debilitating headaches or stomach aches, and fears that devices that get lost inside the body. In addition, religion-based opposition to contraception was also reported as a barrier by a small percentage of women.
What are ways you can suggest to increase the practice of FP in the country? Give at least 1-2 suggestions.
Because of its important contribution in saving lives, women empowerment, and economical development, the practice of FP in the country should be increased. For me, two of the most effective ways to do this are (1) generating more demand and (2) capacitating the providers of family planning services.
Reaching out to more clients will not only help to identify the number of individuals with unmet need for modern FP but also to encourage more couples to practice family planning. Although the government has already conducted demand generating activities, it is important to modify their strategies and make them appropriate for the current situation brought by the pandemic. The use of social media, for one, has become a powerful tool and should be used effectively and efficiently to disseminate promotional materials (e.g. in print, video audio, etc.) regarding family planning.
It is also crucial that more competent providers of family planning services are produced by certified training institutions. This will increase the accessibility and availability of service providers of family planning, potentially catering the needs of clients across all demographics. Furthermore, the availability of instruments and medical supplies must also be ensured in all service delivery points, both in the public and private sector.
Reference:
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Unmet need for family planning. Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/family_planning/unmet_need_fp/en/
Nagai, Mari; Bellizzi, Saverio; Murray, John; Kitong, Jacqueline; Cabral, Esperanza I.; Sobel, Howard L.; Micks, Elizabeth Ann (2019). Opportunities lost: Barriers to increasing the use of effective contraception in the Philippines. PLOS ONE, 14(7), e0218187–. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218187