1. What do you think are the reasons of high unmet need of FP in the Philippines?
Misconceptions about family planning. Myths and misconceptions about family planning are major barriers to the use of contraceptives. I have heard mothers are scared of using contraceptives due to the negative side effects they may do on the body. In supplement, some couples doubt the effectiveness of family planning and perceive it as a waste of money. Community health teaching to couples and pregnant mothers about family planning is a must to debunk their negative notions about family planning.
Lack of support from the partner. Support of the partner or the husband in family planning can influence the contraceptive use of the mother. Some mothers want to use contraceptives however, never discussed it with their partners due to several reasons resulting in having more children than they intended to have.
Level of education attained. Studies have shown that a higher level of education attained is associated with an increased likelihood of adopting modern contraceptives. Even in men, higher attainment in education is linked to higher chances of involvement in family planning.
Lack of accessibility. Women who have an unmet need for family planning are highly probable to be living in rural areas. Others don't have access to a near health center or they haven't been visited by a community health nurse to discuss family planning. Due to this reason, millions of women have not received any family planning counseling in our country.
2. What are ways you can suggest to increase the practice of FP in the country? Give least 1-2 suggestions.
I believe that addressing the reasons why women don't seek family planning counseling should be addressed. Providing accurate and accessible information about family planning will aid women in fully understanding its benefits including how it can also protect them as a mother. A woman fully aware of the options available will feel more in control of her life and will promote making informed decisions. Based on my observations, some people just know that family planning exists however, doesn't really know its concepts and methods resulting in unplanned pregnancies. Community health teachings, as well as house-to-house visits by community health nurses or family planning workers, should be done focusing on areas with poverty and large families.
Aside from better access to information, access to contraception should also be increased especially for the poor. Government, together with the LGUs. should make an effort and implement policies that will better the access to contraceptives and allot enough budget for its full implementation. In supplement to this, birth control should be made more affordable as I believe that the cost of the contraceptives should no longer be an impediment.
References:
Factors affecting unmet need for family planning in southern nations, nationalities and peoples region, Ethiopia. (n.d.). PubMed Central (PMC). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3275860/
Opportunities lost: Barriers to increasing the use of effective contraception in the Philippines. (2019, July 25). PLOS. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0218187