New Report Shows Use of Modern Contraception on the Rise in the Philippines

Over 2.5 Million Unintended Pregnancies Prevented since
2017

KIGALI, RWANDA -�Media OutReach - 13 November
2018 - A groundbreaking international report on family planning shows the use of modern contraception on the rise in the Philippines, as
family planning is increasingly viewed as critical to the country’s economic
prospects. The report also shows modern contraception has prevented over 2.5
million unintended pregnancies and over 600,000 unsafe abortions between July
2017 and July 2018.

 

Despite the strong progress, nearly
one-in-three married women aged 15-49 still have unmet need for modern
contraception.

Beyond the Philippines, the report shows more
women and girls than ever before are making the voluntary choice to use
contraception in the world’s 69 lowest-income countries.

 

The report entitled FP2020 Catalyzing Collaboration has been produced by Family
Planning 2020 (FP2020) – a global partnership that supports the rights of women
and girls to freely decide whether, when, and how many children they want to
have.  The report for the first time ever
includes new data on government spending on family planning in the
Philippines.  The report — available
electronically [here — insert link] shows:

 

In the Philippines:

• Since 2012 the Philippines
  Government through the Family Planning Program of Department of Health has allotted
  a total amount of PhP 4.3 Billion or US$83 Million for the procurement of
  family planning commodities alone.
• In the Philippines, among women
  aged 15-49, an estimated 25.8% or 7.1 million are using a modern method of
  contraception in 2018. This is 1,236,000 more than in 2012.
• The rate of modern contraceptive
  use among married women has increased to 41.2%
• As a result of modern
  contraceptive use between July 2017 and July 2018:

          ?    
2,549,000 unintended pregnancies
were prevented

          ?    
601,000 unsafe abortions were
averted

          ?    
1,200 maternal deaths were averted

• However, 30.9% of married women
  aged 15-49 have an unmet need for a modern method of contraception.
• The new Philippine Development
  Plan 2017-2022 features family planning as a key strategy to achieve AmBisyon Natin
  2040: the Filipino people’s national vision to achieve a strongly-rooted,
  comfortable, and secure life. The government’s goal is to achieve zero unmet
  need for family planning by 2040.

Globally:

• The number of women and girls
  using a modern method of contraception in the world’s 69 poorest countries had
  grown to more than 317 million, as of July 2018.
• This is 46 million more users than
  in 2012 (the year FP2020 was launched) — an increase that is around 30% greater
  than the historic trend.

 

Executive Director of Family Planning 2020,
Beth Schlachter said:

 

“Rights-based
family planning is a catalyst that unlocks the potential of girls and women in
the Philippines and around the world. Our goal is to ensure that each one is
able to exercise her basic rights to self-determination, health, dignity, and
equality. This is a linchpin strategy for countries to improve the health and
well-being of their citizens and economy.

 

“Women
represent half the global population, and there can be no healthy population
globally or in the Philippines without reproductive health care.  As we continue to build the framework for
Universal Health Coverage (UHC), we must ensure access to full, free, voluntary
contraception is included for all women and girls.  As countries build UHC strategies,
rights-based family planning and SRHR services must be integrated within
primary health care systems.”  

Interviews about
the report and its significance in the Philippines are available with the
following individuals. If you would like an in interview, or have written
questions, please reach out directly by email.

 

Dr. Maria Rosario
Vergeire, Assistant Secretary of Health, DOH, officeofasecrsv@gmail.com

Dr. Ruby Costantino,
Director of Family Health Office, rubyconstantino1@gmail.com  

Dr. Junice Melgar, Executive Director, LIKHAAN, junice@likhaan.org

Dr. Yolanda Oliveros, FP/MCH Team Lead, yoliveros@usaid.gov 

Dr. Angelito Umali, Maternal Health Officer, umali@unfpa.org

A fact sheet with
more data specific to the Philippines from the new report, as well as photo
images you are welcome to use, can be found here [https://we.tl/t-N6t2UUf3Xs].
If attribution is needed, please attribute to Family Planning 2020.

 

The report is being launched at the
International Conference on Family Planning. 
Please follow and join in the conversation at:

 

Twitter: @FP2020Global

Facebook: /Family
Planning2020

YouTube:
FP2020Global

 

More background on the Philippine’s recent
activities and progress relating to family planning can be found at
http://www.familyplanning2020.org/philippines.