Family planning thru telemedicine

FOLLOWING restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19, teleconsultation is gaining acceptance among Filipino women to learn more about family planning and relevant and safe contraceptive methods.

This development came after reproductive healthcare professionals are now becoming more accessible through digital means where they can provide guidance and education to their patients.

According to Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) executive director Undersecretary Juan Antonio Perez III, many women have yet to be enlightened on traditional beliefs, myths and misconceptions about family planning, which can address the increasing unplanned pregnancy rate in the country.

“Much of our work in the past was conducted through face-to-face advocacy communications and public events. We need to transition from that setting to another using our help lines and social-media platforms,” Perez said.

“Already, we have set up systems for women to gain access to health services through virtual channels, where doctors will ask them to go online and have a discussion,” he added.

The use of teleconsultation through video calls has started to pick up since the country-imposed lockdowns due to the pandemic, according to Doctor Anywhere physician Dr. Rachel Chin during the Bayer-supported virtual forum on “Women’s Health, Empowerment and Progress.

“Based on statistics, telemedicine is filling a critical gap for women during these times. Despite not being physically in the same room, telemedicine is not impersonal,” Chin said.

According to her, teleconsultation will allow patients to be as personal in confiding to doctors about their concerns regarding reproductive health and other sensitive information.

“Healthcare professionals can tailor advice on the topic of women’s health. They can provide a safe space for women to confide in and recommend options to reduce future health uncertainties, such as through regular screening, vaccination or contraception,” she explained.

Teleconsultation can provide convenience to patients who do not have to wait at doctors’ offices. Appointment of schedule of consult may be fixed, where patients may also choose female doctors if they find information being shared to be sensitive.

“With telemedicine, women can pick and select a doctor of their choice to consult at their fingertips – rather than having to check personally or contact different clinics,” she added.

Supporting POPCOM during the pandemic, Bayer has increased focus on its social-media program on Facebook, Ask Mara Ph, to reach out to more Filipino women.

The platform houses practical and accessible information on the different contraceptive options available, while addressing common misconceptions about birth control.

“Many women ask me about the side effects of contraceptive pills. While it depends on each individual, there are definite benefits from taking them,” said Dr. Amity B. Casurao-Trono, an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Bayer also supported the celebration of the recent World Contraception Day, where among its reproductive-health education programs is “Your Life,” which targets 13- to 25-year-old women as participants in learning about reproductive health.

Even the United Nations Population Fund projected that unplanned pregnancies in the Philippines will reach about 214,000 this year, and for 2021, it will increase to 740,000 – almost a 50 percent increase./PN