Calimquim, A. D. (2016). A motivational program on reducing unmet need for family planning in the Cordillera Administrative Region (Unpublished master's thesis). Public Management Development Program, Development Academy of the Philippines.

Public Management Development Program Middle Managers Class Batch 10 Thesis (MMC)--Development Academy of the Philippines.

The Problem The Department of Health (DOH) issued Administrative Order (AO) 2012-0009 entitled, National Strategy to Reduce Unmet Need for Modern Family Planning (FP) as a Means to Achieving the Millennium Development Goal on Improving Maternal Health by 2015. This was the first national policy that provided a comprehensive approach on the problem of unmet need for modern FP services. Unmet Need for Modern Family Planning (UMFP) is the number of women who are fecund and sexually active but are not using any modern method of contraception, and report not wanting any more children (limiting) or wanting to delay the birth of their next child (spacing). The National Demographic and Health Study (NDHS) of 2003 to 2013 showed a slight improvement of the unmet need for FP from 19% in 2003 to 12.4% in 2013. Traditional methods users have also increased from 14% in 2003 to 17.2% in 2013. The slow performance in addressing unmet need for Family Planning (FP) is reflected in the National Online Reporting System of the agency and for the region. In 2014, there were 3,155 couples who have expressed need for FP after attendance to Parenting Classes in the region but were not able to use. Only 8.7 percent were linked to health facilities and had their needs for FP met. There was significant increase though in 2015 reflecting 52.78% of those with intentions to use FP who were able to practice it. In 2016 however, for the period January to the month of May, less than one percent (.22%) or 2 out of those 883 got help with their FP needs. Proposed Intervention The proposed intervention, the Motivational Program on Reducing Unmet Need for Family Planning, is aimed at contributing to the development of holistic interventions for the program that would influence decisions and change behaviors of claim holders to visit health care facilities to have their needs for FP information and services addressed. Specifically, the Project aimed to accomplish the following deliverables during the implementation period: 1. Baseline Data for Developing the Program 2. Draft Motivational Program with various elements developed 3. Draft implementing guidelines The Motivational Program on Reducing Unmet Need for Family Planning in the Cordilleras is anchored on a formative study through Focus Group Discussions (FGD), Key Informant Interviews (KII) and Consultation Meetings which explored the opinions and experiences of men and women within the reproductive years who are using traditional family planning (FP) methods considered as FP initiators, spacers and limiters, drop-outs of modern FP, the Provincial and Regional Family Planning Coordinators, health service providers in the Rural Health Units of La Trinidad and Kibungan in the Province of Benguet, Provincial Health Officials of Benguet, the Provincial Health Officer of Apayao Province, Department of Health Regional Officials, and the Commission on Audit. The approved project site was the Province of Benguet, the most populis province in the region. La Trinidad, a first-class municipality was one of the areas covered by the Project particularly Barangay Shilan, Barangay Bahong and Barangay Pico. The Municipality of Kibungan, a fourth-class municipalty was the second project site. Barangay Sagpat and Barangay Tacadang provided the FGD respondents. Barangay Tacadang is the farthest from the town hall by walking distance with an 8-hour mountain climbing and two-hour walk downhill on a one-way trail with no means of land-based transportation that can reach the place. Results The study found out that some women or couples do not use modern family planning because they did not know the effective methods of contraception. Some were also affected by the stories of side-effects experienced by those modern FP users. Others have stopped using modern artificial FP because they were not able to manage its side-effects. A few have dropped-out because the FP supply at home ran-out, there was poor initiative-taking by the client, and there was no follow-up made by the health service provider. Some have reported the undesirable odor of the condom which discourage them from sustaining use while a few have prevailing medical conditions preventing modern artificial FP use. Most of those who do not use any modern family planning method were those that do not discuss with their spouse their fertility intentions and those who were not encouraged by their parents to practice family planning. On the other hand, those that motivate modern FP uptake were nothing new based on the study. These were centered on their knowledge of all effective FP methods including Natural FP and their signs of fertility, the availability of free and safe FP commodities and services. They have defined quality health services as being available at any time in the health facility, the health service provider's occasional home visits or follow-up, and those accommodating, sincere and friendly staff. Monetary and non-cash incentives did not prove necessary in FP untake in both the rural and urban areas. The key to sustained FP as revealed by the health care delivery system of Apayao lies in the commitment of health service providers who would follow-up clients, ensuring continuing availability of FP commodity supply from the provincial level down to the community level, and a genuine sense of ownership and support of local health officials, local chief executive and other officials. The abovementioned factors were considered in the development of the Draft Implementing Guidelines. It is centered in providing support to the established Barangay Population Volunteers who would address the gaps by performing three major tasks: a) Profiling, segmenting, and educating couples, of reproductive age who are married or cohabiting on Responsible Parenting and Family Planning, b) nearest health facility, and c) Monitor the FP use of New Acceptors and Current Users to avoid drop-outs. The Draft Implementing Guidelines were reviewed, enhanced and presented to Key Informants who endeavored to improve it.