Government and Private Sector Collaborate on World Contraception Day 2023
Efforts to Address Unplanned Teenage Pregnancy in Thailand
The Office of Reproductive Health, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, in partnership with the Family Planning Association of Thailand Under the Royal Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra Boromarajnani and Bayer Thai Company Limited, held a press conference on World Contraception Day 2023 (#WCD2023). This annual event, observed on 26 September, aims to raise awareness about birth control options and provide accurate information to young people in Thailand. The campaign, titled “#The life we can choose Choices: Your Life. Your Choices,” is dedicated to empowering youth to make informed decisions about their reproductive health, consult medical professionals, and choose suitable birth control methods to plan a better future and reduce the incidence of unwanted pregnancies in the country.
Dr. Boonrit Sukharat, Director of the Office of Reproductive Health, highlighted the long-standing issue of unplanned pregnancies, particularly among teenagers, which carries social and economic ramifications. While the overall number of children born in Thailand has decreased over the years, teenage pregnancies remain a concern. In 2022 alone, there were 42,457 births among teenage girls aged 10-19, with 3,181 of them being repeated births. The majority of these cases involved girls aged 15-19.
To address this challenge, the Thai government has implemented measures to ensure access to birth control options. The National Health Security Office (NHSO) provides free family planning services, including temporary measures such as birth control pills, emergency contraception, implants, and intrauterine devices (IUDs), as well as permanent methods like female and male sterilization. The government emphasizes the right to healthcare for all Thai citizens.
Assistant Professor Dr. Sukanya Sripho, Secretary General of the Family Planning Association of Thailand, stressed the importance of accurate information and support for young people and individuals of reproductive age. Although they have easy access to information through the internet and social media, it is crucial to receive reliable guidance on birth control methods, as incomplete or incorrect information can lead to adverse outcomes. To provide comprehensive information about birth control options and their effectiveness, the association has prepared a Birth Control Method Manual, endorsed by renowned obstetrician-gynecologist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manopchai Thammakantho, which is distributed to pharmacists in drug stores. The manual includes informative infographics to guide individuals in choosing the most suitable method of birth control for themselves.
Assistant Professor Dr. Sukanya also emphasized the shared responsibility of both men and women in preventing unplanned pregnancies and promoting quality births. Condoms are a viable option for men, while women can consider highly effective and convenient methods such as birth control pills. Apart from preventing unwanted pregnancies, these methods also help prevent various sexually transmitted infections.
Bayer Thai Company Limited, as a leading company in life sciences and women’s healthcare, has pledged to make modern contraception accessible to 100 million women in low- and middle-income countries annually by 2030. As of 2022, Bayer has already provided modern contraception to 44 million women in these countries.
Ms. Jinah Lee, Managing Director of Bayer Thai Company Limited and General Manager of the Pharmaceutical Business Group, expressed Bayer’s commitment to women’s health and encouraged women of all ages to share their health stories, seek advice from medical professionals, and make informed decisions for their future through the Bayer For Her campaign.
Dr. Paneeya Sutabutra, Medical Director of the Pharmaceutical Department at Bayer Thai Company Limited, highlighted the global rise in unplanned pregnancies due to a lack of knowledge and misuse of birth control methods. Every year, approximately 121 million women worldwide experience unintended pregnancies, with over 60% of them resorting to unsafe abortions. To address this issue, the World Birth Control Day 2023 campaign, supported by the government and Bayer, aims to reduce unintended teenage pregnancies and promote awareness and understanding of effective birth control methods.
The campaign will feature various activities targeting different groups, including a public event at Siam Square on September 26, 2023. The event will include discussions by medical professionals and testimonials from teenage actors who will share their experiences. Additionally, a “Contraceptive Method Manual” will be provided to pharmacists to assist customers in making informed choices.
Furthermore, the Office of Reproductive Health, the Department of Health, and Bayer Thai will continue their collaborative efforts through the Young Love project, which promotes safe love practices among university students and factory workers. In 2023, they plan to organize eight activities, reaching out to more than 5,000 participants and providing them with information on appropriate birth control methods to reduce unwanted pregnancies.
The overall objective of the campaign is to empower individuals, particularly teenagers, with the knowledge and resources needed to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancies in Thailand.
#WCD2023 #WorldContraceptionDay #YourLifeYourChoices #ThisClubIsRunByALady #WorldBirthControlDay
The Office of Reproductive Health, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, together with the Family Planning Association of Thailand Under the Royal Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra Boromarajnani and Bayer Thai Company Limited held a press conference on World Contraception Day 2023 ( World Contraception Day 2023), which takes place on 26 September each year, under the campaign. #The life we can choose Choices: Your Life.Your Choices Campaigning for youth to study accurate information about birth control. Dare to consult with medical personnel. Deciding on appropriate birth control for yourself Being able to plan a quality future Reducing the problem of unwanted pregnancy in Thailand
Dr. Boonrit Sukharat, Director of the Office of Reproductive Health, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health He said that unplanned pregnancy is a chronic problem that has been faced for a long time. Especially unplanned pregnancy among teenagers. or the problems of young mothers which have social and economic effects.
Currently, despite the situation of the number of children born each year in Thailand The number has continuously decreased from 2011 when 782,198 children were born until in 2022 485,085 children were born and is likely to fall further. But among teenagers, there is still the problem of premature pregnancy.
According to the latest situation data from the Department of Health, in 2022 teenage girls aged 10-19 gave birth to a total of 42,457 people, or an average of 116 people a day. In terms of repeated births, there were 3,181 people, or around 7.5 per cent. The main problem is that teenage girls aged 15-19 give birth to a total of 40,888 people, or around 112 people a day.
Boonrit Dr That said, in this situation, the government has provided guidelines for people to access birth control. The National Health Security Office (NHSO) provides family planning services. Including temporary birth control, including birth control pills. emergency contraceptive pill birth control pills Birth control implants, IUDs, and permanent methods, including female and male sterilization. free of charge For Thai people, every right to treatment
“The important thing is to prevent problems. Providing correct information and attitudes about sex education And birth control should start at family level, so we should encourage parents to provide a safe place where they can have skillful conversations and provide correct information. Prevent premature pregnancy. for a quality pregnancy”
side Assistant Professor Dr Sukanya Sripho, Secretary General of the Family Planning Association of Thailand Under the Royal Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra Boromarajnani He said many young people and reproductive age groups still need support to access accurate information so they can choose methods that meet their needs and lifestyle. Although teenagers nowadays have access to information from the internet and social media, However, you may receive incomplete and possibly incorrect information. Because birth control is a detailed issue that must be understood.
This year, NST has organizedBirth control method manual who was honored by obstetrician-gynecologist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manopchai Thammakantho, RN, Advisor to the Society’s Board of Directors Be a giver of information prepared in the form of public relations documents given to pharmacists in drug stores To be a guide to give advice and produce information in infographic form about birth control methods. and the effectiveness of birth control methods Provide information to use when deciding on an effective method of birth control that is right for you. By doing public relations through social media NSTDA (Facebook Page of the Family Planning Association of Thailand and TikTok/@ppat.official) and the Office of Reproductive Health (Facebook Page This Club is Managed by a Lady and TikTok The This Club is Managed by a Lady) throughout the month
Assistant Professor Dr. Sukanya He added that it is important to promote quality births. Have kids when you’re ready. So, if you’re not ready, you should get birth control. This is considered a responsibility shared by the woman and the man. There are many options for birth control, for example, men can use condoms. Along with women being able to choose highly effective and convenient birth control methods such as the birth control pill. or choose a birth control pill Because in addition to preventing unplanned pregnancy It can also prevent various infectious diseases. this can also be caused by intercourse
For Bayer We are committed to ensuring that 100 million women in low- and middle-income countries have access to modern contraception every year by 2030. By 2022, Bayer has made modern contraception available to 44 million women in low and middle income countries.
In the field of cooperation from the private sector Ms. Jinah Lee, Managing Director of Bayer Thai Company Limited and General Manager of the Pharmaceutical Business Group Said that Bayer Thai, as a leading company in life sciences and women’s healthcare for over 60 years, has joined the campaign through the Bayer For Her campaign, encouraging women of all ages to be brave enough to share their health stories through #SgyrsGofal #You can talk about women. and consult with medical personnel Receive accurate information and have choices Be able to make decisions for your own future.
It’s World Birth Control Day. It is another important day where all sectors come together to campaign for the same goal. That is, reducing unintended teenage pregnancy. and for Bayer Proud to be part of this campaign for the last 16 years.
Dr. Paneeya Sutabutra, Medical Director of Pharmaceutical Department, Bayer Thai Company Limited He said that the situation of unwanted pregnancies around the world continues to increase at present. Every year, almost half of all women worldwide experience an unplanned pregnancy, totaling 121 million per year, or 332,000 per day. This is mainly due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of birth control and its use of inappropriate birth control methods And more than 60% of women with unintended pregnancies have abortions, and 45% of abortions are unsafe.
For the campaign guidelines for World Birth Control Day 2023 under the #LifeWeChooseChoices campaign: Your Life. Your Choices, there are various activities to reach target groups, such as organizing World Birth Control Day 2023 activities in Siam Square on September 26. 2023 with an activity campaign in various forms.
● Organizing World Birth Control Day 2023 activities at Siam Scape on September 26, 2023, with campaign activities. Including a discussion by Dr. Olarik Musikwong, obstetrician-gynaecologist, and teenage actors ‘Satang’ Kittipop Seriwichayasawat and ‘Namtan’ Tipnaree Wirawatnodom, youth representatives who will share their experiences. #The life we can choose Choices: Your Life. Your Choices includes campaigning. and distributing public relations materials about correct birth control methods to teenagers in the Siam Square area as well.
● Create a “Contraceptive Method Manual” to be a guide for pharmacists. For those receiving services at the pharmacy
In addition, the Office of Reproductive Health, the Department of Health and Bayer Thai also organize activities to provide information and give advice. Under the Young Love project, love is safe in universities and factories, which has been in operation continuously since 2014. In 2023, there are plans to hold a total of 8 activities, expected to more than 5,000 participants. Provide information about appropriate birth control among teenagers. Reduce unwanted pregnancy
#WCD2023 #WorldContraceptionDay #YourLifeYourChoices # This club is run by a woman. # World Birth Control Day
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