Reuters Examines Abortion, Family Planning In Philippines

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 10 Sep 2007 - 9:00 PDT

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Reuters on Wednesday examined abortion in the Philippines and how the phase out of a USAID-funded program that provides contraceptives to women in the country might affect rates of illegal abortions nationwide (Crimmins, Reuters, 9/5). Women who abort their fetuses in the Philippines risk going to prison for up to six years, while anyone assisting such a procedure faces an equal sentence, as well as the loss of any medical license. Although abortion is illegal in the country except to save the life of a pregnant women, there were an estimated 473,000 induced abortions in the Philippines in 2000, or about 27 abortions per 1,000 women (Reuters AlertNet, 9/5).

According to a survey by the Guttmacher Institute, about 25% of women seeking abortions have a surgical procedure, which can cost 4,000 to 15,000 pesos, or about $86 to $321. More than 30% of abortions are conducted by ingesting either cytotec, an anti-ulcer treatment available at pharmacies, or herbal mixtures. About 20% of women take hormonal drugs or aspirin, as well as other medications and alcohol. Some women stop eating or throw themselves down stairs, and most women only terminate their pregnancies after several attempts, Reuters reports. Among low-income women seeking abortions, more than 20% insert catheters into their vaginas or receive so-called "massages" from a hilot, or local midwife, which involves pounding on the lower abdomen of the woman to trigger a miscarriage.

Nearly 80,000 women in the Philippines are treated in hospitals annually for complications from induced abortion, and at least 800 women are estimated to die every year from complications, according to health reports (Reuters, 9/5).

Family Planning Programs
USAID has been the largest supplier of contraceptives in the Philippines for the past three decades, but the agency has decreased its donations and plans to terminate its contraceptive program by the end of 2008. According to USAID, the phase out is in line with the Philippines' goal of achieving self-reliance in family planning.

Government officials in the predominately Roman Catholic country have been reluctant to approve funding for contraceptives and birth control information to be taught in schools because of the potential reaction of Catholic bishops. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is Catholic, since taking office in 2001 consistently has promoted natural family planning methods over contraceptives. Government booklets on responsible parenting do not mention birth control pills, condoms or intrauterine devices (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 8/16).

"The natural family planning method is a good option, not only a good one but an effective one," Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, said. Some officials have said the Philippine government's reluctance to continue USAID's program will increase the country's rate of abortion, Reuters reports. "Supplies (of contraceptives) have already run out in many towns and cities, so the situation is rather desperate," Alberto Romualdez, a former health secretary under deposed President Joseph Estrada, said.

According to the Guttmacher survey, more than half of the women who have had an abortion in the country were not using any family planning methods, and of those who were, three-quarters were using natural methods advocated by the government, such as rhythm or withdrawal (Reuters, 9/5).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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