What is your opinion about the practice of family planning? Are you for it or against it?
Practicing family planning gives time for the mother to recover from the previous childbirth and to provide attention and care for the baby who is recently delivered. I think this is important not only for the mother, but also for the baby and the father (or the partner). The child expects to receive love and security from the parents especially at the very young age. Uncontrolled pregnancy may result to lack of opportunities of the child to be dependent on the parents as increasing number of household members also increases the responsibilities and the burden on the parents to provide social and economic security for the family. Population growth rises due to these unwanted pregnancies, which also affects the environment and resources. The risk of being infected by STIs are also reduced if condoms are used through the intercourse. Family planning gives various benefits to the client and to the community.
The act of building a family itself is a responsibility of the person who wanted it. I believe that people should take accountable for the decisions they will make – particularly parents – because the life of the children that they will bear is also included in the consequences of their actions. They should consider their social and economic capacity and other issues that could affect the growth and development of their future children. By practicing family planning, health care workers can help these people in deciding the number of the children they can support. They will be guided on things they needed to consider in building their family.
Are you in favor of the Reproductive Health Law and its provisions?
Yes. The main goal of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 is to guarantee “universal and free access to nearly all modern contraceptives for all citizens, including impoverished communities, at government health centers”. Most people who are against the implementation of rules and regulations of this law focused on the religious aspect of it. Religious freedom is respected by this law as hospitals operated by religious groups are not required to provide such services. In other issues like relationship of socioeconomic status and the use of contraceptives, I think this law will help people, especially adolescents and younger people, and those who lack opportunity to learn in school, to deepen their understanding on reproductive health and family planning. The law includes family planning information and services, maternal, infant and child health and nutrition, prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications, adolescent and youth reproductive health guidance and counseling, prevention and management of RTIs and STIs, elimination of violence against women and children, education and counselling on sexuality and reproductive health, treatment of breast and reproductive tract cancers and other gynecologic conditions and disorders, male responsibility and involvement and men’s reproductive health, prevention, treatment, and management of infertility and sexual dysfunction, reproductive health education for adolescents, and mental health aspect of reproductive health care. Women, and men, will both benefit in the implementation of this law.
References:
Cabral, E. (2013, March 27). View of Reproductive Health Law in the Philippines: Journal of the Asean Federation of Endocrine Societies. View of Reproductive Health Law in the Philippines . Retrieved April 1, 2022, from https://www.asean-endocrinejournal.org/index.php/JAFES/article/view/48/471
Goldberg, J. (2022, February 22). Philippine Supreme Court Upholds Historic Reproductive Health Law. Center for Reproductive Rights. Retrieved April 1, 2022, from https://reproductiverights.org/philippine-supreme-court-upholds-historic-reproductive-health-law/#:~:text=The%20Responsible%20Parenthood%20and%20Reproductive,communities%2C%20at%20government%20health%20centers.
NCDPC. (n.d.). What are the benefits of using family planning?: Department of Health Website. Department of Health. Retrieved April 1, 2022, from https://doh.gov.ph/faqs/What-are-the-benefits-of-using-family-planning