From March to May 2024, we were commissioned by DKT Philippines Foundation and DKT International to take a closer look at how long-acting reversible contraceptives are being understood and used across the country. This was not a desk review. We went to the ground. We spoke with the people who provide the services and, more importantly, with the women who use them or are thinking about it.

We conducted the study in Bulacan, Rizal, District II of Quezon City, Cebu, and Misamis Oriental. Across these areas, we surveyed 797 healthcare providers and held focused discussions with adolescents, first-time users, and women already using LARC. We also interviewed health officers managing reproductive health services in their communities.

What Providers Told Us

Only 36 percent of surveyed providers had formal training on intrauterine device insertion and removal. For contraceptive implants, the figures were even lower. Only 30 percent had training for insertion and 28 percent for removal. Even among those who had received training, actual knowledge remained low. Just 36 percent correctly answered IUD-related questions and 49 percent for implants. Training on adolescent-specific counseling was reported by only 15 percent.

Many providers admitted feeling unprepared. It was not just a lack of skill but a lack of confidence in talking to younger women or first-time users about LARC. And when that gap exists, women are more likely to walk away without the care they came for.

What Women Shared

In the focus group discussions, we heard a lot of myths. That IUDs could cause infertility or cancer. That implants might move around the body. That long-acting methods are only for women who already have children.

Despite all these, many adolescents said they would consider using LARC if only they could get information they could trust and counseling that did not make them feel judged. They knew what was at stake. They understood that a reliable method could help them avoid unplanned pregnancies and stay in school. What they wanted was clarity, respect, and support.

What Health Officers Are Dealing With

The program managers we interviewed confirmed what many already suspected. There are not enough training opportunities. Supplies run out. Budgets are stretched thin. Educational materials are not updated or widely distributed. Promotion of LARC is limited to a few small efforts when it needs to be a serious strategy.

What We’re Recommending

There is no single fix, but the path is clear.

We recommend expanding hands-on training programs for health providers. This should include insertion, removal, counseling skills, and how to address misinformation. Trainings must also include adolescent-focused approaches. But training is just the start. Providers need consistent support through mentoring, supervision, and knowledge checks.

We also need to invest in community education. Myths must be addressed where they start. LARC should be explained in schools, barangay sessions, and youth corners. When women hear consistent messages from both peers and professionals, trust grows.

And this cannot be done in silos. We need the Department of Health, local governments, NGOs, and training centers working together. Only then can we ensure that LARC services are available, consistent, and delivered with quality.

Why This Matters

This study gave us clear evidence. It confirmed what some have known anecdotally and revealed new gaps that deserve urgent attention. Access to long-acting contraception should not depend on where a woman lives or whether her provider happens to be trained.

If we want real choices for Filipino women and adolescents, we need to put in the work. That means better training, better counseling, and stronger systems that support both the providers and the clients.

If you would like to request a full copy of the study, get in touch. We are ready to share the data, the stories, and the lessons. Because real change begins with understanding what is actually happening on the ground.