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1. Misamis University
Ozamiz City
Graduate School
Reaction Paper
For Seminar on Paternal Involvement
In Family Planning and Maternal & Child Health
In partial fulfillment of the requirements in CHN 215
Submitted by:
REYNEL DAN L. GALICINAO, RN
Student, Master in Nursing
Major in Nursing Educational Administration
July 9, 2011

2. Paternal Involvement in Family Planning
And Maternal and Child Health
The seminar on “Paternal Involvement in Family Planning and
Maternal and Child Health” is very timely as the passage of
Reproductive Health Bill is a big issue at the present. Family planning
and maternal and child health is a very significant matter to discuss
in a family. Moreover, the role of the father is undeniably important
for the promotion of maternal and child health.
In the traditional Filipino family, only the woman decides
whether to use a family planning and as to which method. However,
the father must take an active role in deciding for his family’s
welfare. He must not only give consent to the family planning method
to be used but must take part in determining an acceptable and
suitable method. If the couple chose to decide to use family planning,
both of them will be affected so it must be an informed decision of
both the husband and wife.
The speaker stressed the importance of the role of the nurses
in family planning and thus encouraged nurses to be an active
advocate and educator of family planning and maternal health. The
nurses and midwives in the rural health units must indeed take part
and encourage family planning without bias to either natural or
artificial methods. This decision must be left to the couple who are
well informed of the advantages and disadvantages of every method
possible.
The speaker also advocated on promotion of the permanent
sterilization and long-term family planning methods; vasectomy for
men and bilateral tubal ligation for women, and the use of
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3. intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD). Couples who do not have
plans of rearing another child must use the permanent or long-term
family planning to prevent unplanned pregnancies in the future.
The benefits and consequences of vasectomy were discussed
very well. According to the speaker, vasectomy is a very convenient
method and it is highly beneficial for the couple. The misconceptions
regarding the said method was also debunked.
Maternal and child health and welfare is very much affected by
the family size. Their quality of life is also affected so the
government must ensure that ALL Filipinos have the freedom to
choose as to plan their families or not and whether to use artificial
or natural methods. They must have access to maternal and child
healthcare and not be constrained by poverty. They must also be
given the chance to have a good quality of life and step out of
poverty.
The seminar is indeed very informative and the speaker
presented the message very well.
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