By Rose Palacio

Davao City (31 October) -- Across Mindanao regions, Davao region posted the highest in Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR); while Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has the lowest at 20 percent.

CPR is measured as the percentage of currently married women in the age group of 15-49 who are currently doing something to delay or avoid getting pregnant.

Davao region posted a CPR of 57.2 percent in 2006, up by 3.4 percentage points as compared to 53.8 percent in 2005. The increase is due to the increase in the use of traditional methods of family planning.

The CPR is part of the Regional Date Dissemination on the results of the 2006 family planning survey held at Grand Regal hotel, October 26, 2007 presented by NSO Acting Regional Director Raul Gomez; Statistician expert Leah Magracia; Dr. Cemellie Bernadette Sabay; and Josephine Quianzon of the Institute of Primary Health Care.

In its presentation, pills still remained the most popular method of FP in Davao region with 18.5 percent of currently married women taking this daily routine. Another 11 percent chose to use the traditional method of calendar or rhythm.

For the 9.1 percent of the currently women, they opted to have ligation to permanently prevent them from ever becoming pregnant. Another popular contraceptive is the intrauterine device which is being used by 8.3 percent of the currently married women.

The success of FP lies on the efficiency of the method used, correct usage, consistency and regularity of use. Unintended pregnancies among current users are often a result from misunderstanding of the proper way to use the method, switching to a less efficient method or discontinuation of use altogether.

The result of the 2006 FPS showed that in Davao region, among the 174 thousand currently married women in their reproductive ages who used some supply method in 2005, 85.9% are still using the same method in 2006.

Some 2.0% shifted to another supply methods, while 2.5% are now currently using a non-supply method. Almost 10% of the currently married women who were supply users in 2005 are now not currently using any method.

About 37% of the currently married women are not using any contraceptive method in Davao region. Reported reasons related to exposure to conception for non-use of a contraceptive method. These reasons include already old or difficult to get pregnant, menopausal or had hysterectomy, infrequent sex or husband is away or amenorrheic.