KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES OF REPRODUCTIVE AGED FILIPINO WOMEN ON FAMILY PLANNING AND SEXUAL HEALTH DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Problem Statement

The novel coronavirus (SARS CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 spread rapidly since emerging in late 2019 and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020. This cross-sectional study aims at determining the knowledge, attitude and practices towards family planning and sexual health of the Filipino woman to equip policymakers and family planning and sexual and reproductive health advocates to address the issues associated with COVID-19 as it is a constantly evolving public health crisis.

Methods

An online questionnaire was conducted among reproductive aged women from 18-49 y/o consulting with the obstetric service via telehealth consultation at a tertiary hospital. The characteristics of the respondents were assessed using a cross-sectional questionnaire survey and descriptive statistics.

Results

The prevalence of family planning use among 18 to 49 years aged women was 45.7% during the lockdown. Results show that the most popular methods of family planning among the respondents are: withdrawal (53.8%), followed by oral contraceptive pills (34.8%), implants (17.9%), condoms (16.8%), injectables (16.3%). Economic burden and uncertainty due to the COVID-19 lockdown has also affected the respondents’ fertility preferences in that 75% of respondents decided to change the timing of planning their pregnancy, 83% now desire for fewer number of children.

Conclusion

This study showed the current knowledge, attitude and practices of reproductive aged Filipino women on family planning and how the pandemic has affected their ability to afford and gain access to the vital sexual and reproductive healthcare and contraceptive services. The study also showed that there was a shift in the fertility preferences of the participants due to the lockdown restrictions.