User:Shaira2/sandbox

== Selecting Possible Articles ==

Quezon City Medical Center / Health Department
This article does not currently exist, and by researching the organization that I will be working with this coming summer and creating an article for it, I will be able to learn more about the health department and its current programs. By becoming more knowledgeable about where I will be volunteering, I can better prepare myself for my practice experience.

Health in the Philippines OR Rural Health in the Philippines
After communicating more with the Quezon City Health Department, I realized that the work they expect me to do seemed largely ineffectual and I felt dissatisfied with the knowledge that I wasn't able to do more with my practice experience. Because of this, I decided to switch PE organizations, and I will now be working with the Botolan Rural Health Unit in Zambales. Given this change, I am hoping to learn more about current public health interventions and programs in the Philippines. Additionally, because I will now be working in a rural rather than urban area, I believe it is important to learn more about the difference in the level of health care access, especially because rural areas typically lack adequate medical attention and services. There is not currently an article dedicated to rural health in the Philippines, but I could also edit the existing article about health in the Philippines to include a section about rural health, reproductive health, women's health, or other prevalent health topics in the country.

Francisco Duque
He is the current Secretary of Health of the Philippines, and he served as the Secretary of Health previously from 2005 to 2009. His article makes no mention of his policies and perspectives regarding reproductive health and family planning, so perhaps by looking more into these topics, I will be able to learn more about what he hopes to accomplish and his past policies and advocacy work (if at all), which will definitely make an impact in the sector of public health in the Philippines.

Rodrigo Duterte
He is the current President of the Philippines, and during his presidency thus far, there have been many issues and controversies regarding his health policies (of which there are noticeably no mention on his Wikipedia page). He recently tried to implement a new national family planning program to much criticism, so I think I would be able to gain more insight into the perceptions and discourses surrounding reproductive health in the Philippines, which is known for its conservatism and predominantly Catholic population.

Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012
This article is a thorough, comprehensive look at the reproductive health policies of the Philippines, covering topics from the act's passage and controversy to abortions and contraceptives. However, the article does not make mention of how the act is being implemented today, six years after its passage, and how effective it is in addressing prevalent health issues of locals. Researching more about its effects will hopefully allow me to gain more knowledge about the current state of the Philippines' health programs and the resources and services it provides to its constituents.

Family Planning OR Family Planning in the Philippines
This article makes mention of Filipino policy on reproductive health, referencing the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (mentioned above). However, it does not go into much depth about how the policy is implemented or any effects it has had on local populations since its passage. I could potentially discuss Filipino contraceptive use and access, which will allow me to gain a more thorough and detailed look at the reproductive health perspectives in the Philippines. Alternatively, I can also create a new article titled "Family Planning in the Philippines," since I encountered some articles dedicated to family planning policies and programs in particular countries.

Health in the Philippines (Area)
There is definitely a lot of room for contributions in the article, particularly because it is relatively short compared to other Wikipedia articles. After reviewing and skimming other health articles in various countries, I could potentially include sections about rural health, reproductive health/family planning, and women's health in the Philippines in order to provide a more comprehensive look at the current health conditions in the country. These areas of health have also been emphasized in recent policies and programs undertaken by Philippine government in attempts to reduce national maternal and neonatal mortality rates, so I believe that including these sections in the article is important to understanding the current climate of health policy and will allow me to be more aware during my practice experience. Additionally, it looks like much of the statistics and information provided in the article have not been updated in a while (ie. some of the stats are from the early 2000s), and do not take into account data from the most recent Philippines NDHS conducted in 2013. Most of the information also comes from the same source, and some of it, such as the first three paragraphs have not been cited at all. I also feel that most of the information in the article focuses primarily on government spending in regards to health policy in the country and does not discuss any other aspects of the general health conditions of Filipinos.

The lead also seems inaccurate and is not explained anywhere else in the article, as I remember reading in the NDHS that residents in rural areas rely on public health services, while those residing in more crowded urban areas utilize private medical providers. Because of the sheer number of individuals who live in cities, it may seem like much of the health care in the country is provided through private practices. However, I would hesitate to say that "[m]ost of the national burden of health care is taken up by private health providers," especially because it is not cited or elaborated upon in the article.

Family Planning (Sector)
Because family planning is recently becoming increasingly discussed and implemented more and more in many countries around the world, this article is already very thorough and delves into many aspects of the topic. After reading some of the sections in the article, I see many grammatical errors or language choices that do not seem as neutral as they could be. Additionally, after looking at the talk page for this article, I see a lot of controversy regarding the precise definition of "family planning," and whether or not this can serve as a synonym for contraceptives, as well as whether or not abortions are considered a family planning method. This makes me a bit more hesitant to make any changes to the rest of the article, as I definitely need to conduct more research about the term "family planning" because of its recent emergence in the field of public health.

Although there is a lot of information in the article, I am particularly interested in contributing more to the section about family planning programs in the Philippines. While there is brief mention of the controversy surrounding the issue of contraceptives in the country, I believe there is a lot more to be said and discussed when it comes to the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, especially regarding its impact and how it is - or is not - being enforced. Information that could be provided includes how the act has affected the percentage of women taking contraceptives in the country and whether or not the Philippines' population growth rate has changed since its passage.

Additionally, I can focus on a particular method of family planning and discuss its efficacy and effectiveness. I can also add more to the section about "Obstacles to Family Planning" and explore how religion plays a role in the beliefs of women and their hesitance to use contraceptives.

Health in the Philippines (Area)
Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey 2013

The NDHS was created in response to the country's maternal and infant mortality rates, and it is conducted every five years in order to assess the impact of national health programs, particularly those related to maternal and reproductive health and fertility. Because I want to create new sections in this article about women's health and reproductive health, this source will provide recent data on how knowledgeable Filipinos are about these areas and how they are managing those aspects of their health, either through private or public health providers.

==== UNICEF Philippines Maternal and Newborn Health Country Profile 2013 ==== UNICEF's country profile for the Philippines provides a good overview of and relevant statistics pertaining to maternal and neonatal health that are indicative of the nation's quality and accessibility of health care services. This paper also evaluates the impact of Filipino health policy and interventions in relation to the Millennium Development Goals, and whether or not they are meeting those standards set by the United Nations.

==== Philippine Health Sector Review ==== This monster of a document from the World Bank provides a very comprehensive look at the healthcare system and policies of the Philippines and evaluates recent health trends, such as mortality rates, health spending, and problems in access to healthcare services. This data will serve as a reflection of the current health conditions of the country, which I can use in order to develop a more up to date overview of this article.

==== Universal Health Coverage in the Philippines ==== In recent years, the Philippines has decided to take on the challenge of providing universal health coverage for its citizens, and this paper evaluates the country's progress in regards to this goal. It particularly takes into consideration how national health policies and health insurance have impacted the general health of Filipinos and whether or not they have increased access to health services, which I can use to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Philippines health system.

Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey 2013
Because the survey focuses on maternal and child health and provides data on health services and access, it will be especially useful in determining how the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 has affected women's health and family planning in the country. (See above for more details about this source.)

==== Ten Years of Traditional Contraceptive Method Use in the Philippines: Continuity and Change ==== This study looks into the use of contraceptives among women in the Philippines, with a focus on traditional contraceptives, which groups of women are more likely to use such methods, and why there has been a persistent preference for traditional contraceptive use despite advances in family planning methods. Although I am still trying to determine if the phrase "family planning" is interchangeable with the word "contraceptives," this paper provides insightful information on current family planning methods utilized, the level of sexual education that is present throughout the country, and how the two are a reflection of the current reproductive health conditions present in the Philippines.

==== The Delinking of Sex and Marriage: Pathways to Fertility among Young Filipino Women ==== This study, which was published in January of 2017, looks at the relationship between Filipino women's first sexual encounter and level of sexual education to their fertility rates, while taking into consideration the socioeconomic and cultural environments in which these women live. I can use its results in order to learn more about the effectiveness of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, especially because not many studies have been conducted after its passage.

Health in the Philippines (Area)
The adoption of the Millennium Development Goals led to the Philippines undertaking health policy reforms, especially regarding reproductive, maternal, and infant health. Policies such as the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 and the National Health Insurance Program were passed to increase healthcare access and services throughout the country. However, due to a lack of adequate funding and disparities in the distribution of wealth, the Philippines has not been able to effectively implement these policies, and there is still a need for adequate healthcare in the country's urban slums and rural areas.

New Section: Healthcare
Health care in the Philippines varies with private, public and barangay health centers (many in rural municipalities). Typically, health services are more accessible in urban areas rather than rural areas, with individuals from rural areas relying more on public facilities to the receive medical attention they need.

In order to increase access to healthcare, the Philippines adopted the National Health Insurance Program. Most citizens are insured through Philippine Heath Insurance Corporation (also known as PhilHealth), which has been able to increase health insurance coverage throughout the country in recent years but is lacking in quality of and access to health services. However, there is still a large majority of the population, particularly those who live in rural areas, that lack the resources to receive the health services they need.

New Section: Maternal and Child Health
With Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 having a focus on maternal and infant health, the Philippines has been taking strides in increasing access to resources and services related to reproductive health.

Reproductive Health
Filipino women are generally aware of at least one contraceptive method, although only 55% of women use contraceptives and 33% of those women still partake in traditional methods. While the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 was passed to ensure universal access to contraceptives, it has not been successfully implemented due to unequal distribution of resources and wealth across the country. Most contraceptive methods are obtained through public facilities, such as barangay health centers, rural health units, or urban health centers. Since 1993, there has been a gradual decrease in unmet family planning needs over the past two decades, from 30% to 18%.

Maternal Health
Approximately 60% of births are delivered in health facilities, most particularly in public facilities. The most common reasons for women not delivering in a public facility with the help of a skilled medical provider was due to cost and lack of access. The current maternal mortality rate (MMR) is 94 deaths per 100,000 live births in the country, which is slightly improved prior to the passage of the MDGs in 2000 but has not been able to meet the requirements of MDG 4. This rate is highest among women living in rural areas who reportedly have low levels of education or high parity (7+).

Infant and Child Health
The current newborn mortality rate 43 deaths per 100,000 live births in the country. This rate is the highest among mothers living in rural areas who reportedly have low levels of education.

New Section: Mental Health
'' See also Mental health care in the Philippines. ''

Mental health facilities and institutions are maintained in the Philippines by both private and public groups but access to them remains uneven throughout the country. Most facilities are situated in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other major cities in the country, thus favoring those who live near these urban areas.

HIV/AIDS
'' See also HIV/AIDS in the Philippines. ''

HIV/AIDS infection in the Philippines is low but growing. The current incidence of HIV/AIDS in the country remains under 0.1% of the total population in 2015. The Philippines has one of the lowest rates of infection, yet has one of the fastest growing number of cases worldwide. The Philippines is one of seven countries with growth in number of cases of over 25%, from 2001 to 2009.

Cases are concentrated among men who have sex with men, and secondarily, among female sex workers.[citation needed] HIV cases among men having sex with men multiplied over 10 times since 2010. HIV cases are getting younger.

The first case of HIV infection in the Philippines was reported in January 1984.

According to official estimates, 1,965 cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were reported in 2003, of which 636 had developed acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Other estimates state that there may have been as many as 9,400 people living with HIV/AIDS in 2001.

Family Planning in the Philippines
In the Philippines, the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 guarantees universal access to methods on contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care. While there is general agreement about its provisions on maternal and child health, there is great debate on its mandate that the Philippine government and the private sector will fund and undertake widespread distribution of family planning devices such as condoms, birth control pills, and IUDs, as the government continues to disseminate information on their use through all health care centers.
 * Current contraceptive methods used by Filipino women
 * Modern: pills, condoms, IUDs
 * Traditional: rhythm calendar, abstinence
 * Level of sexual education knowledge
 * Age of first pregnancy is getting younger and younger, but daughters are reportedly more religious
 * "Shifts in such attitudes and behaviours, as documented by rising levels of premarital sex and teenage childbearing, underscore the importance of sexual and reproductive health education and services for young Filipinos, regardless of gender, age or marital status, to ensure that young men and women are becoming parents if and when they desire"
 * 80% of young women reported not having been taught about family planning while growing up
 * Accessibility of family planning methods
 * Discussion of debate surrounding reproductive health
 * Given that the Philippines is a predominantly conservative, Catholic country, how is the policy of universal access to contraceptives being received?

List of Possible Sources
Ten Years of Traditional Contraceptive Method Use in the Philippines: Continuity and Change | https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/WP130/WP130.pdf

The role of men in induced abortion decision making in an urban area of the Philippines | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.libproxy.berkeley.edu/doi/10.1002/ijgo.12211/full

“Freedom to go where I want”: improving access to sexual and reproductive health for women with disabilities in the Philippines | https://www-tandfonline-com.libproxy.berkeley.edu/doi/full/10.1080/09688080.2017.1319732

THE DELINKING OF SEX AND MARRIAGE: PATHWAYS TO FERTILITY AMONG YOUNG FILIPINO WOMEN | https://doi-org.libproxy.berkeley.edu/10.1017/S0021932015000462

Women's empowerment and the use of antenatal care services in Southeast Asian countries | https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/WP129/WP129.pdf

Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey 2013 | https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR294/FR294.pdf

UNICEF Philippines Maternal and Newborn Health Country Profile 2013 | https://www.unicef.org/philippines/MNH_Philippines_Country_Profile.pdf

The Impact of Healthcare Insurance on the Utilisation of Facility-Based Delivery for Childbirth in the Philippines | http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0167268#pone.0167268.ref001

Social health insurance in a developing country: The case of the Philippines | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953605006568?via%3Dihub

Decentralization, Democratization, and Health: The Philippine Experiment | http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0021909611399730