| Abstract: | A multicenter survey of 400 married Filipino women 15-40 years of age conducted in 1986 by Family Health International and the International Health Foundation provided valuable information on contraceptive use in the Philippines, as well as factors influencing such practices. The respondents, who were drawn from 10 urban communities in Metro Manila and 10 rural communities in Nueva Ecija Province, averaged 31.5 years of age and had a mean number of 2.9 children. 32% of respondents indicated they desired another child. 225 women (56%) reported they were using no method of contraception. 59 (14%) were protected from pregnancy by tubal sterilization or vasectomy. 77 women (19%) were oral contraceptive (OC) users, and 8 (2%) were IUD users. Only 1 respondent was using a long-acting contraceptive. 3 women used spermicides, 21 (5%) used condoms, 25 (6%) practiced rhythm, and 30 (3%) of the women's husbands practiced withdrawal. Overall, 27% of contraceptive users in this sample used more than 1 method. 26% had been using a contraceptive method for 1-3 years and another 46% for more than 3 years, indicating consistent acceptance of family planning. A sequential trend of nonuse, OC use, and finally sterilization was observed. OC use was highest among women in their late 20s with 2-3 children. Urban-rural residence and socioeconomic factors had little impact on OC use. An encouraging finding was that only 25% of respondents believed that the pill poses important health risks and 61% were aware that pregnancy and childbirth involve greater health risks than OC use. This finding is in opposition to the extremely high levels of misinformation about the dangers of OC use identified in other surveys in developing countries and probably reflects the fact that 77% of women in the present study reported receiving advice on contraception from family planning professionals. |
