Philippines

A series of 7,107 islands in southeast Asia, the Philippines has a population of well over 88 million people. Most Filipinos feel that the primary function of a couple is to produce children, and until a baby is born, the family is not complete. If a couple has fertility issues, they are likely to adopt. Children are thought to bring good luck to a family, and traditionally, the more children born, the more blessed a family is. Most Filipinos believe that nearly all of the wants and needs of expectant mothers should be fulfilled or the baby may be born unhealthy. It is also conventionally believed that the soon-to-be mother and baby are vulnerable to supernatural beings, and may wear amulets for protection.

The Philippines has a life expectancy at birth of 71 for women and 64 for men, where over 80 percent of people are Catholic. The Philippines is a middle-income country and 57.8 percent of women live in urban settings. According to the 2003 Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 63.6 percent of women are married and the divorce rates are very low, below 3 percent, partly due to the central importance of family and religious beliefs, among other factors. In terms of women's educational attainment, 1.4 percent have no education, 23.1 percent have completed elementary school, 44.8 percent have completed high school, and 30.7 percent have completed college. Urban and wealthier families tend to have fewer children than do their rural and poorer counterparts.

In 2006, the World Health Organization reported that the total fertility rate, or average number of children per women, was 3.3. More than 50 percent are born at home, and the majority of mothers breastfeed. The infant mortality rate, or number of infant deaths, is 24 per 1,000 live births, and is lower for females than males. There is a 20 percent low-birthweight prevalence. In 2003, almost 49 percent of Filipino women used some form of contraception, including both traditional methods like the rhythm or withdrawal method, as well as modern methods such as the pill, sterilization, or condom, but over 17 percent of women still had an unmet need for family planning assistance.

Annually, the Philippines receives approximately $60 million to aid government agencies and other [Page 980]nongovernmental organizations, such as maternal and child health programs, to help promote safe motherhood and nutrition. It is common for Filipino women to have successive pregnancies, and the associated complications are not universally understood. In addition, recent research suggests that there is confusion about available birth control methods, and their associated health risks and advantages. Only about 3 percent of the country's annual budget is spent on health care, which includes care for mothers, expectant mothers, and children.