Parenting modules eyed to end abortion incidents

To address the rising incidents of abortion not only here in Cebu but throughout the country, the Department of Social Welfare and Development will be implementing modules on parent effectiveness.

DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral, in an order, said that there is a need to implement and enrich modules on parent effectiveness, responsible parenthood, women welfare, youth welfare, the rights of the child and other programs and services devolved to local government units that are promoting the sanctity and respect for life.

Cabral said the DSWD will intensify its advocacy efforts by sustaining continuing information, education and communication activities on child placement services such as adoption, foster care and legal guardianship.

Central Visayas has seen abortion cases increasing over the past decade, as at least 17 out of 1,000 women here have gone through abortion operations, reported Philippine News Agency Monday.

In 1994, an average of 11 cases per 1,000 women aged 15 to 49 went through abortion in the region. The number has increased to at least 17 now, the report said, which is based on research papers by the US-based sexually-related health research institute, Alan Guttmacher Institute.

The Guttmacher study, which focused on the Visayas areas, showed that unintended pregnancy is the main cause of abortion which has become a common option despite its illegality under the law in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation, the report said.

The Guttmacher report also found that nearly half of all pregnancies or 1.43 million of about 3.1 million pregnancies in the whole country are unintended, one-third of which are ended through abortion.

“In the Visayas, 44 percent of all pregnancies are unintended,” the Guttmacher report said, adding that more than 9,000 women in the Visayas are hospitalized annually due to complications arising from induced abortions. — Jasmin R. Uy/MEEV