| Abstract: | The sterilization program begun in the Philippines by Presidential Decree in 1974 is described. The goals of the program are: 1) training of program practitioners, to equip a corps of physicians with needed skills; 2) recruitment of acceptors to test the acceptability and viability of the approach among eligible groups; and 3) "professionalization" of medical practice in sterilization. The training of program physicians has been taken over by Popcom as part of its 1-year sterilization training program. The institutionalization of the surgical sterilization in medical schools and family planning organizations has been undertaken by the Study and Training Center for Surgical Sterilization. Various types of sterilization clinics are described. The reaction of the population and methods of handling potential acceptors are described. Sterilization techniques and side effects are presented for male and female sterilization. 3 models for information-education-communication in sterilization are reported. The number of births averted by this sterilization program is estimated. Problems encountered are revealed. |
