If the lack of access to family planning methods continue amid lockdowns brought about by the pandemic, unplanned pregnancies could spike to 200,000 by 2021, data from the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) bared.
On the other hand, a separate study of the University of the Philippines Population Institute estimated that the number of unplanned pregnancies could reach up to 79,000 per month under the prevailing quarantine in the country.
Considering that the lockdown started in March and if it continues until the end of 2020, there could be 750,000 unplanned pregnancies in the country. There is currently an average of 1.7 million Filipinos giving birth every year
“Now the reality is hindi naman 100% naka-quarantine. So ang naka-quarantine basically, ang pinaka affected area is NCR, surrounding provinces and other areas (The reality is not everyone is quarantined. Those in quarantine are basically from the most affected areas, NCR, surrounding provinces, and other areas),” POPCOM Exec. Dir. Juan Antonio Perez III said.
“Sabihin na natin (let’s say) 30 percent of the population is affected by quarantine. Instead of 750,000, the affected population might be, I mean the number of births, might be closer to 200,000,” Perez rationalized.
Perez emphasized that continuing with family planning “at this time is important” for the economic well-being of households and of poor families who already have many children.
Contraceptive supply ensured
The POPCOM reported that the poorest families in the country have an average of two to four children.
“Because of the efforts of the local government units, ‘yung mga health services nila, DOH, and POPCOM all working together, what we are doing is making sure that local governments have enough supplies of pills and condoms,” Perez assured.
The POPCOM reported that more families are learning to value family planning and added that the pill is the most commonly used form of contraceptive. Four million were recorded to have been using family planning methods in 2013. The figures have continued to significantly increase, considering the current number at 7.8 million.
“Up to 2019, kasi (because) NEDA has estimated that the family planning program, because of its increase in size, has contributed to the reduction of poverty from 23 percent to 16 percent; and we were supposed to continue doing that up to 2022,” Perez stated. – Report from Sweeden Velado-Ramirez
