Bayer Philippines Inc. and POPCOM have pushed on World Contraception Day for a more aggressive facts promotion on Family planning even as approximately 218 million women from low-to-middle-income countries, including the Philippines, have an unmet need for modern contraception amid myths.
Bayer and the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) are advocating for women’s health and their reproductive choice to combat misinformation as captured by the local theme: “Usap Tayo sa Family Planning.”
Myths and misconceptions on Family Planning and Reproductive Health proliferate—clouding perceptions and access in making informed choices.
While contraceptives are readily available, this does not mean they are accessible to everyone. Barriers to access range from lack of awareness and affordability to limitations based on age or marital status.
For World Contraception Day 2022, POPCOM also shared that the implementation of Republic Act 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law has helped expand the total number of those availing family planning services by 30%.
Currently, there are about 8.1 million Filipinos enjoying the benefits of having their families planned.
According to latest data from health centers and health facilities nationwide, pills remain to be the most preferred family planning method by some 3.2 million Filipino women in 2020.
Pills had an additional 1 million adherents from 2016 figures. Implants also had a significant increase in acceptors: from 103,000 to 474,000 in the span of those years. Same was true for injectables: from 959,000 to 1.6 million.
For males, within that period, about 400,000 resorted to condoms—up from 270,000.
Despite the uptick in access, concerns about contraceptives still persist with regard to their side effects, myths, stigma, and opposition from others.
Some of the common ones are that “people who use contraceptives end up with health problems,” that “contraceptives are dangerous to women’s health,” “contraceptives can harm your womb,” or even endanger future ability to become pregnant.
World Contraception Day (WCD) takes place yearly on September 26 to raise awareness among women of reproductive age regarding sexual and reproductive health.
Providing women access to scientifically accurate and non-judgmental information about a range of contraceptive methods, their pros and cons, and related sexual health topics encourages them to take control over their reproductive and sexual lives.
More importantly, this helps them make informed choices.
To help dispel these myths, Bayer Philippines Inc. Managing Director and Country Division Head for Pharmaceuticals Angel-Michael Evangelista shared: “Bayer in the Philippines continues to advocate for women’s health and their ability to make an informed choice through our ongoing online and offline programs.”
“Our existing Ask Mara chatbot on Facebook helps women get in touch with teleconsultation services through our tie-up with telehealth provider HealthNow to provide vouchers for consultation with OB-GYNs, as well as help locate nearby drug stores. We also partner with agencies like POPCOM to achieve the vision of a world where every pregnancy is wanted.”
On top of that, Evangelista adds: “Bayer Philippines is extending awareness on healthcare, contraception, and family planning to our smallholder farmers through the Bayer Kubo, our flagship social engagement program which will run in Cabanbanan, Pangasinan, and Dolores, Quezon this year.”
“POPCOM sees more Filipinos relying on the benefits of modern contraception methods. This is evidenced by the country’s estimated total fertility rate consistently declining in the past two decades, and in 2021 was recorded at 1.8 children per family or couple,” explained the agency’s Officer In Charge-Executive Director Lolito R. Tacardon.
“Encouraging a nation where every pregnancy is planned, POPCOM places a premium on correct information, proper education, and open communication in actively promoting the benefits of family planning and contraceptives,” asserted the POPCOM official.
“To achieve such, we work closely with the national and local governments, as well as partners such as Bayer Philippines in ensuring all bases are covered, and all possible knowledge platforms and pathways are harnessed and maximized—despite limitations presented by the pandemic.”
Citing the latest RPRH Law Annual Report, Tacardon pointed out that efforts in delivering accurate and the most current information on contraceptives to more Filipinos will particularly focus on further increasing demand for modern contraception methods, which stood at 58.1 percent in 2021.
Since its global launch in 2007, there are over a dozen international partners supporting WCD with Bayer being there from the early start.
The partners are dedicated to increasing access to and availability of family planning services and education. They have united to create and enhance awareness and also to underline the importance of empowering young people to learn about sexual and reproductive health, as well as to talk boldly about it with their healthcare providers and partners. Together, they call on governments and decision-makers to encourage them in promoting the subject at the political level.
