Half of women in CV use contraceptives

The overall rate in the use of contraceptives in family planning, or the contraceptive prevalence rate, in Central Visayas stayed constant at 49 percent for the past ten years, according to the National Statistics Office's 2005 Family Planning Survey.

The survey results was presented during the Data Dissemination Forum, of the NSO and the United States Agency for International Development, held at the Cebu Grand Convention yesterday.

Population Commission regional director Leo Rama said the leveling of the contraceptive prevalence rate is due to the strong motivation of health workers.

"We have reached the hardcore already and we have also decided to provide these service delivery to far flung areas where contraceptives are not that commonly used," Rama said, adding that more midwives have been deployed in barangays to help in the family planning program.

The NSO said that half of married women, 15 to 49 years of age, have been practicing family planning over the years, using two kinds of methods-traditional and modern.

The survey showed that 36 percent of these women use modern methods, and only 13 percent use the traditional way.

In the use of family planning methods, pills and ligation have remained the leading contraceptives for the past 10 years, with pill users comprising 17.1 percent and ligation with 9.4 percent.

The calendar-and-rhythm method follows this with 6.5 percent, withdrawal with 6.3 percent, intra-uterine devices with 3.9 percent, injectables with 3.2 percent, and condoms with 1.9 percent.

The survey further stated that uneducated women have been the least likely to use contraceptives or birth control methods.

Fear of side effects and health concerns have been the bigger reason among married women for skirting the practice of family planning, the study read.

Those who could afford to buy contraceptives, from the usual sources such as pharmacy or drug store, have been the more prevalent users of contraceptives.

The poor usually get their supplies of pills, IUDs and injectables from rural health units, urban health centers, and barangay health stations. - Jasmin R. Uy/RAE