‘Womb in Resonance’—if only the womb could speak

(Conclusion)

Indeed, if only the womb could speak, it would give many couples a piece of its mind. The video produced by joiningvoices2020 .org titled, “Womb in Resonance,” highlights the misplaced fears and misconceptions about contraceptive methods.

Some individuals interviewed in the video believe contraceptives can make them hypertensive, and prone to illnesses including cancer. Some of them contend that they’re not that effective in preventing pregnancy since some of the women they know using them still got pregnant. While viewing it, one is almost tempted to reply, ”Any pill or device which is not properly taken or used will not really be effective.”

“I think it just runs in the blood, having many children is genetic. That’s what they say, go forth and multiply,” one interviewee says in Filipino, rationalizing having many children as a biblical mandate.

Former health secretary Dr. Esperanza Cabral, the lead convenor of the Purple Ribbon for Reproductive Health (RH) Movement and chair of the National Implementation Team for RH Law, says in the video that if we will not correct the myths and misconceptions about contraceptive methods and everything about reproductive health, we can never empower our women to make more informed decisions on family planning.

Prevailing mind-set

Dr. Cabral explains the prevailing mind-set particularly in the rural areas why they think it is more beneficial for the family to have many children. “Before, the main source of livelihood was agriculture which was labor intensive. So they would be needing help in planting, in harvesting, but now, we have a different practice and way of life,” she explains.

She adds that there is no argument as to the value and importance of having children, but she stresses that we have to ensure that when we have children, we can take care of them, we can give them the right food, and send them to school for their future.

“But if you have 10 children, and they are dying because of hunger, illnesses, and you can’t bring them to hospitals, they have no education—what future awaits them? This runs counter to our goal to have fully developed and happy children,” she says.

Dr. Cabral also laments the cultural mind-set that the husband has the sole right to make decisions for the family, and that includes the number of children he wishes to have. “Even if the women do not want many children, they still get pregnant because they don’t have the power over their bodies,” says the former health chief.

High death rates

A woman does not seem to have the right to decide on what’s good, safe and healthy for her own body. If a woman gives birth almost every year, her health can definitely be compromised; hence, our still high maternal and infant death rates. This problem is magnified tenfold in the poor because even if their pregnancy and delivery become complicated as in those interviewed in the video, they don’t have adequate access to doctors, health facilities and proper nutrition.

The increasing rate of adolescent and teen pregnancy in our country is also alarming.

“Mortality rate among pregnant teenagers is higher,” Dr. Cabral warns. “They are not just physically underdeveloped, they are also mentally and emotionally unprepared. That is why rearing a child is very hard for them.”

If only parents, especially those belonging to the marginalized sectors, would realize that having only two or three children instead of 10, will go a long way in providing for their needs, rather than having a big brood of starving, malnourished and uneducated family. They will have time for themselves to think of what’s right for them, says Dr. Cabral.

Lawyer Sharon Garin, representative of AAMBIS-OWA party-list, also reiterates that the government should invest on reproductive health education—to teach, educate and communicate the rights of every Filipino, especially women.

“We need to have people who have a choice, and who are given a choice, and have access to such choice. I think we can curtail the problem of teenage pregnancy, maternal healthcare. No women should die of childbirth. I don’t understand why some sectors can’t understand that,” she says.

Equal rights, equal access

Lawyer Garin stresses that all Filipinos should have equal rights and be given equal access to what they are entitled to. “We are protecting the lives and human rights of the Filipinos. We need to invest on that.”

Dr. Cabral thinks it’s unfortunate that legislators and other policymakers feel threatened by the Church with its power to influence the outcome of elections. This is one reason why they cannot seem to allocate the necessary funds for a good public awareness and educational program for family planning and maternal health.

“All studies abroad show that it is one of the most cost-effective ways of spending the government money. For example, for every peso that the government spends for family planning services, they can save up to P30 in other benefits from the family planning program that they did,” says Dr. Cabral.

With an effective and sustained family-planning program, poverty can be markedly reduced, and this can redound to significant savings which the government could allocate for its other programs on national development.

In the video, Dr. Cabral suggests that government officials should ask themselves these basic questions: “Is it the right of the woman and the family to decide for themselves? Is it the responsibility of the government to give them sufficient knowledge to decide rightfully and give them support to achieve what they want?”

She says that by answering these questions objectively and honestly, our health officials and legislators would have a good starting point that can intelligently and effectively guide any rational family planning program.

And if only the womb could speak, it would thank the government profusely for that.

The video “Womb in Resonance” may be viewed at: www.joiningvoices2020.org /blog/our-resources/the-positive-result-of-well-funded-family-planning-project-in-the-philippines.