The Commission on Population and Development (PopCom) revealed that Filipino women, on average, have one child more than they intended.
The data is based on the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), according to a press briefer released by PopCom.
The same survey revealed that among the Filipino women that have more child than intended, the figure is highest among women from the lowest wealth quintile and lowest educational attainment.
The NDHS also showed that one in 10 women started childbearing at aged 15-19 and 17% of women aged 5-49 want to practice family planning but do not have access to said methods.
On Thursday, the POPCOM Davao Region joined the whole globe in the World Contraception Day (WCD) through health caravan, training, workplace orientation, press conference and social media campaign with intensified strategies supported by various materials to generate widespread attention about family planning and WCD.
“Family Planning is not just about access to contraceptives but also a human development issue as we empower women and couples to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Having an option means having the power and a choice to decide for your future,” said Undersecretary Juan Antonio Perez III, the executive director of POPCOM.
He added that the government is determined to respect, promote and ultimately fulfill the promise of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) law, especially with the marching order from President Rodrigo Duterte to intensify the implementation of the National Program on Population and Family Planning (NPPFP).
