ETHICS OF FAMILY PLANNING

The essence of population control is quality of life.

In an overpopulated world, no country has the right to indulge itself

in high population growth rate. Such move by any country could be regarded
as irresponsible and a threat to all mankind.

Population problem is the problem of mankind since a high

population growth rate is threat to mans well-being. For indeed, rapid
population growth brings about negative consequences on the economic,
social and political life of a country.

In the end, men must make his own decision. The most appropriate
place to confront the issue is in the field if ethics. For this reason, ethics is
utilized among the other courses in teacher-education, as vehicle for
integration of population education. Our primary objective is Quality of Life
for Philippine Population. Quality pf life pertains to many things among which
are:

1. Food, Clothing and Housing

2. Convenience and comforts
3. Education and recreation
4. Productivity and self-fulfillment
5. Satisfactory interpersonal relationship

The family is the key to the quality of life of the population.

Wholesome family life, in turn depends on quality of parents and quality
children. We need responsible parents who can raise children to become
responsible adults.

Every parent has multiple responsibilities; namely, to himself, his

spouse, his children and his community.

Responsibilities to Oneself
1. Maintenance of Personal health and good looks
Every parent must look after his own health. He must get enough
rest and sleep as well as good food. There must be time for recreation
and relaxation. The parents, especially the mother, must not allow her
looks to deteriorate. She must pay attention to her figure, her attire
and general appearance. Having too many children is often an excuse
for neglecting ones looks.
 2. Self- improvement and professional growth
Every parent must try to improve as a person and as a worker.
He must grow up and become more and more mature, self-disciplined,
self-reliant, self-confident, outgoing, tolerant, generous and loving. He
must continue to study and train in order to become a more skilled
worker, a more competent employee of professional. He must not limit
his opportunities for professional growth, by being tied down with too
many children to look after.
3. Self-knowledge and self-acceptance
In order to improve oneself, it is necessary to really know oneself
first ones strengths and weaknesses. One who dislikes himself will
tend to dislike others, one who facts angry, inferior and inadequate will
stay away or will develop unpleasant ways to secure attention or to
stimulate superiority.

Responsibilities to Ones Spouse

1. Concern for health and welfare of spouse

Each spouse must look after the health and welfare of the
other.

2. Mutual Support

Spouses must help each other in earning a living, managing

the house and rearing the children. Moral support is needed when the
husband is discouraged with his work or when the wife is anxious about the
children.

Principles of Family Planning

There are several principles, which should guide those who deliver
family planning. The same principles apply whether they are physicians,
nurses, midwives, or motivators. Among others, the following have been
mentioned:

1. Voluntary family planning is an important health measure

Each physician, regardless of his specialty, must keep family planning
in his mind. For example, the psychiatrist caring for a patient with a
 postpartum depression must be sure that a second pregnancy does not
follow quickly to one, produced such a negative response. He must
consider the contraceptive status of his patient in order to treat her
depression adequately. The availability of information about voluntary
family planning as a health measure must be improved.
2. Services must be delivered in a private and dignified setting
Empathy and thoughtfulness are especially important when dealing
with a persons sexuality and fertility. Family planning services
requiring pelvic examinations and dealing with a patients sexuality are
more complicated and intimate than other preventive medical
measures. A question, which can help in deciding how each procedure
should be performed in a family planning clinic, is How would I want
my wife, my lover, my daughter, or my sister to receive these
services?
3. Avoid referring to good methods of birth control and bad
methods of birth control Any method is better than the use of no
method if a couple wishes to avoid pregnancy. The best method is
often the one that makes a couple feels most natural and most
comfortable.
4. Encourage male participation in the family planning program
Family planning programs can offer counseling, condoms, education in
rhythm, vasectomy referrals, infertility services and sex education for
men and can encourage men to share responsibility for conception
control.
5. Listen to your patients the patients feelings will influence her or
his effectiveness as a contraceptor. Patients can help in making of
important decisions about how to provide services.
6. Family planning information should be available to persons in
a manner, which preserves their anonymity Printed materials,
radio, television and movies should all be used more effectively to
share family planning information in a way which would guarantee
patients anonymity.
7. Family planning clinics can provide many non-contraceptive
services to patients Pap smears, urinalysis hematocrits, blood
pressure, rubella and sickle cell screening, pregnancy testing, infertility
evaluation, nutritional counseling, and follow-up questions on past
medical and surgical problems with referrals when necessary, are
among such services a clinic can extent to patients.
8. Population concerns have no place in a family planning
program Family planning programs provide services to patients
 desiring to control their own fertility. Patients do not come to family
planning clinics because of any concern to world population.

FAMILY PLANNING AND THE YOUTH

1. What kind of things should young people know about? They
must realize that by learning about family planning, they are really
increasing their own freedom. This is because after they have all the
information, they can decide themselves what they want to do. If they
do not have the information, their choices are fewer.
They should consider, first the possibility of delaying marriage
because life today is longer and because it takes longer to prepare for
ones life work than is used to take, it makes good sense to marry at a
later age than our parents did. They also should consider delaying the
birth of the first child. They should remember that it is a long time after
the first child comes until the last on leaves home, so the young couple
could take some time to set up a home, to make sure savings for the
future, etc. and after that, they should consider spacing the children
maybe 2 to 3 years between them. In this way, each child can receive
more love and attention, in its turn. And they can consider limiting the
total family size, if they want to and all of this is planning for family
welfare.
2. What can young people do? This is not the time for the youth to ask
whether they must be involve in family planning or not. Their concern
should be the how of youth involvement.
There has been a considerable amount of activity among
youth organizations in both developing and developed countries at
stimulating awareness and action in the population field among young
people on the national level. Many youth organizations give young
people an opportunity to make their views known on population issues
and ensure wider participation in population programs. Young people in
our country may form similar organizations or join existing ones
engaged in family planning, just as they are now affiliating with
dramatic guilds, glee clubs and sport teams to promote the movement.
They may attend seminars or workshops on population matters and
family planning programs to supplement information received in
schools to better inform and prepare them in their role as future
parents. It is essential that they develop a Christian outlook of life,
which can make sharing with others a common virtue, and therefore
 encourage community commitments. They should work to bring about
a better communication between generations and more involvement of
boys and girls in family life responsibilities.

Best Time to Practice Family Planning

It is advisable to practice family planning

1. When first married, to postpone the arrival of the first baby until the
couple is adjusted to married life.
2. After the childbirth, the mother has to recover from stress and strain
and the baby is young and needs the mothers time and care.
3. When the bread winner is out for work.
4. After a bout of sickness or ill health.
5. When living in unsettled conditions.
6. When a couple has had the number of children they can afford or
desire.
7. When there is a bad history of hereditary disease.

The Population Commission, through the National Population Program

promoted a number of family planning methods and presented their
advantages and disadvantages.

1. Tubal Ligation. Cutting off the fallopian tube to block completely the
passage of the ovum and prevent it from meeting the sperm. It is a
safe and effective method of female contraception. This is for couple
who has completed the desired family size. This is also for women who
will ve risking their health and life if they become pregnant again. It is
an effective method for limiting the number of children. It has no
adverse effect on sexual performance, but instead enhances it because
one need not fear pregnancy. The acceptor who has to rest from work
for two or three days after operation experience minor discomfort.
2. Vasectomy. This requires a simple operation by cutting off the
VASDEFERENCE so that the sperm will not enter the semen that is
discharged. It is a safe effective and permanent method of male
desired family size. This is recommended for couples who have
completed the desired family size. This is for men whose wives face
medical risks if they get pregnant again. There are no adverse effects
on sexual performance but instead enhances it because there is no
fear of pregnancy.