Community in Action: FPOP responds to sexual and reproductive health concerns through youRHotline

written by Nadim Lumubos and Crissar Joy Mundiun

The official hotline of the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP), youRHotline, was launched to cater for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) concerns. It is a safe and open space aimed at providing humane care to all.

As the COVID-19 pandemic hits the Philippines, sexual and reproductive health services were stalled, due to community quarantine which prohibits non-essential workers to leave their residence.

According to the University of the Philippines Population Institute, the unmet need for family planning increased by 67% due to community quarantine-induced service reduction hence an additional 218,000 women age 15-49 with an unmet need for family planning every month of the quarantine.

The Commission on Population also showed that there will be an additional 700,000 expected babies to be born in 2021 due to unintended pregnancies. Maternal mortality also increases with an estimated 60 maternal death every month of quarantine. Further, as the quarantine forced people to stay at home, the incident of intimate partner violence (IPV) also increases during these times. Data shows that every month under the quarantine, there were an additional 12,100 women to experience IPV. youRHotline, as a response to the community quarantine-induced services reduction on SRH, is an adolescent-friendly hotline service that offers SRH information and consultation available on different platforms. It offers a wide range of services such as general check-up, gynecological consultation, information on contraception (types of contraceptives available, correct usage, etc.), information on Sexually Transmitted Infection and prevention, HIV and AIDS and prevention, Pregnancy Care, and Counselling for victims of Gender-based Violence. These services are also supported by the mobile clinic conducted right at the heart of the community where Doctors, Nurses and Midwives are always available to answer your needs.

To date, youRHotline services are available nationwide. You may avail of SRH services wherever you are by contacting youRHotline social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr) at @ youRHotline.PH or visit Facebook Page, FPOP Your Hotline Philippines at www. facebook.com/yourhotline.pg, or call through the youRHotline mobile numbers at +63 996 988 8826 or 0918-673-1111 for SRH Concerns, 0918-673-4444 for the Post Abortion Care Hotline and Violence prevention hotline at 0996-988-8826. You can also email your concerns at fpopyourhotline@gmail.com.