Factors affecting recommended modern family planning methods: The case of selected midwives from Metro Manila, Philippines

The study examines the factors affecting knowledge and perceptions of selected midwives from public and private health facilities. It also determines the relationship between their knowledge and perceptions with their recommended family planning methods. The study informants comprised of nine public health midwives from the different barangay health centers and ten midwife-managers of Well-Family Midwife Clinics from various cities in Metro Manila. The findings of the study showed that all informants were married and with a mean age of 37 years old for public and 42 years old for private midwives. Their gross monthly income median were computed at P11,000 for the public and P60,000 for the private midwives. Most of the midwives have been trained in basic-comprehensive training and follow the standards set by the Department of Health in counseling. They use similar materials to counsel clients. There were, however, differences observed between the institutional set-up of the barangay health centers and the Well-Family Midwife Clinics. All midwives were aware of modern family planning methods and related them to artificial methods. They viewed these methods as effective and would recommend methods based on the needs of their clients. The pill was regarded as the most popular, most acceptable to clients and easiest to teach. On the other hand, the condom and IUD were seen as least popular but were considered to have the least side-effects. Only the institutional factors were clearly related to the knowledge, perceptions and practices of midwives on family planning. Despite the similarities in the goals of both public and private midwives to help couples plan their families, there were differences in the nature of their institutions which affected how they actually perform their roles as family planning providers. Issues on the quality of service arise partially due to the circumstances that surround them. Further concern includes how the midwives were found to practice routine assignments that serve as barriers to acceptance and continuation of family planning use