-
What do you think are the reasons of high unmet need of FP in the Philippines?
According to the Family Health Survey conducted in 2011, the unmet need for family planning among married women remains high at 19.3%. Most of these women come from low-income families, being the majority within the 15-19 years old age range. This trend consequently increases the prevalence of early pregnancy associated with adverse health outcomes and negative social implications among young women (Lattore, 2019). Despite awareness on at least one of the modern contraceptive methods, contraceptive use among this age group remains the lowest. Various factors are associated with the low use of family planning, including but not limited to:
-
Education - A study by Lattore (2019) revealed that the majority of women with unmet need for family planning reported secondary education as their highest educational attainment, while the proportion of women with met needs is highest among those who attended higher level than secondary education. Descriptive statistics also show that those with met needs have higher knowledge on the concept of ovulation, contraceptive method, and the possibility of conceiving during the interval between giving birth and the return of the menstrual period.
-
Husband’s preference on contraception - Another predictor of low contraceptive use is the husband’s approval even when the wife prefers to cease childbearing. Young women with partners who want more children are 12 times more likely to have unmet family planning needs. The lack of educational and economic opportunities for women who experienced early pregnancy is associated with more dependence on their partners, thereby influencing their health decision-making.
-
Low interaction with healthcare workers - The low proportion of young women with interaction with a health worker may also contribute to the low level of knowledge of these people on reproductive health. The lack of home visits by public healthcare workers also indicates low access to healthcare services.
-
Restrictive laws - A minor cannot access reproductive health services without securing consent from parents or guardians in accordance with the Reproductive Health Law. As such, the lack of accessible contraceptive options increases the risk of sexually active minors engaging in unprotected sex.
-
What are ways you can suggest to increase the practice of FP in the country? Give least 1-2 suggestions.
-
Reconsider the need for parental consent to access RH services for minors
A high proportion of young women from age 18 and below engage in pre-marital sex. Considering the conservative nature of most families, and sex is considered taboo in the Philippines, the need to secure consent only hinders them from freely accessing reproductive health-related services. Moreover, it impedes their right to privacy and the right to make health care decisions. An alternative to securing parental consent is the provision of counseling services to minors who are interested in availing contraceptives and other RH-related services. Doing so increases the control of these women over their reproductive health, and it also helps them to make safe and informed choices with regard to their sexuality.
-
Promote scientifically-based family planning methods in barangays
Public healthcare workers, in collaboration with the local government unit, must work hand-in-hand in increasing knowledge about the importance and safety of family planning methods within barangays, especially in poor communities. Most importantly, there must be a continuous supply of free (or genuinely affordable) contraceptives in every health center that every woman can easily access.
References
- Latorre, A. A. E. (2019). Factors Associated with Unmet Need for Family Planning among Young Women in the Philippines. Philippine Journal of Health Research and Development. http://scinet.science.ph/union/Downloads/276-630-2-PB_367716.pdf
- Prata N. (2009). Making family planning accessible in resource-poor settings. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences, 364(1532), 3093–3099. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2009.0172
- Unmet Need for Family Planning Remains High (Results from the 2011 Family Health Survey). (2012, May 25). Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from https://psa.gov.ph/content/unmet-need-family-planning-remains-high-results-2011-family-health-survey