|
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
More N. Mindanao women using modern birth control: agency
By Danilo V. Adorador III
NORTHERN Mindanao has more married women using modern birth control methods than any regions in Visayas and Mindanao in 2005, a National Statistics Office (NSO) survey showed.
Conducted by NSO last year, the survey also revealed that more married women in the region alternately switch from modern to traditional birth control approaches than anywhere else except Cagayan Valley.
Fifty-seven percent, or 7.5 higher than the aggregate Philippine figure, said they use any method available; 44.5 percent said they prefer the modern ones, while 12.7 said they opted for traditional methods.
The figures indicate a rising trend toward preference for modern methods among married women in the region, while showing a decline in the use of Church-sanctioned traditional methods -- from 16.2 percent in 2004 to 12.7 in 2005.
Among 17 regions in the entire country, the use of traditional birth control methods had risen only in four areas, namely Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
Although the dominant Catholic Church only allows rhythm and other natural methods, the Northern Mindanao figure shows that married women have become increasingly liberal in their family planning choices.
Meanwhile, the unmet needs, or the proportion of married women who are not using any method of family planning but do not have children anymore or prefer space births, only rose a fraction -- at 17.4 percent from 17.3 percent in 2004. This figure however, has been continually rising in the last three years, albeit in a slow pace.
Most women in this category cited method-related reasons, which include old age, difficulty in getting pregnant, menopausal, infrequent sex, not being sexually active, ammernorheic, among others.
Opposition to the use of artificial birth control methods -- partly due to religious deference -- accounts for only about 2.3 percent. Forty-eight percent had concerns on side effects and other health issues, while 18 percent said they want more children.
(August 29, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
|
