THERE are important things in life that cannot be delayed: paying bills, having birthdays, and getting older—to name a few. But there are some life decisions that can be postponed. Having a baby is one of those.
With that in mind, the Commission on Population and Development (Popcom) and the United States Agency for International Development (Usaid) launched the “It’s OK to Delay!” social-media campaign to urge young Filipinos to consider the right time to have a first baby. The 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey found that young Filipino women often get pregnant within a year of beginning sexual activity.
“It’s OK to Delay!” recognizes that young people can have a variety of educational and economic goals—such as finishing school, getting a promotion at work, or owning a house—that they want to achieve before building their own family. The campaign will introduce family planning (FP) methods that will give them peace of mind while they are pursuing personal goals until they are ready to have a newborn.
“Young adults 18 to 30 years old are not traditionally reached by family planning demand-generation activities,” said Michelle Lang-Alli, Usaid/Philippines Office of Health Director. “‘It’s OK to Delay!’ will let these young Filipinos know they have options too—and that it’s okay to wait until the time is right to have a baby and start a family.”
“It’s OK to Delay!” uses humor and a playful vibe to urge young people to engage in “adulting” with confidence and pursue their aspirations, whether big or small. “The campaign’s non-threatening approach is designed to let young people know they have FP options, and that it is alright to ask for—and receive—FP information and services,” Popcom Undersecretary Juan Antonio Perez III, MD, explained. “They can visit their local health centers or pharmacies, or call the Popcom Helpline, at 09175970770 and 09988652810 for information and referral to FP services.”
A joint engagement between USAID and Popcom, “It’s OK to Delay!” can be found on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, where it features a humorous four-episode video series, “That Tita.”