LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Health clinics are distant to households that young couples in Madaymen, Kibungan, don’t have easy access to family planning methods.
Mechelle Acwayan of Benguet State University in her research noted that the couples don’t have time to travel and acquire family planning methods because they are busy with their livelihood. Most of the respondents of the study are farmers aged 22-35.
Kibungan, as cited in the study, is one of the municipalities with fast growing population in the province. The 2015 census of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed that the municipality has 17, 292 population.
The researcher also found out that though the church belief systems and elders restrict the use of modern family planning methods, they still use contraceptives to avoid unplanned pregnancy so they can support their children.
“Maymayat et din man control, uray anusan et ay mnalako si pills wenu condom to at least uray kuma wada d duwa wenu tolo et anggay si anak ta adi kaya ay pakanen. Tanu ana-anak ya si tapen di agew yan adi maedawat di kasapolan da et da eman kakaasi (It is better to use contraceptives. I am willing to buy contraceptives to have at least two or three children so that I can feed them than to have more children but I cannot provided their needs in the future)” emphasized a respondent quoted in the study.
Pills, withdrawal, calendar method, depo-provera (injectables), condom, and tubal ligation are the family planning methods used in the community.
The study recommends that Barangay Health workers (BHW) or Municipal Health Workers (MHW) should be available in the communities and in the clinics for easy access of information since they are viewed as the most reliable sources of information.
By Peter P. Dalocdoc, Jr.
