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Yangon: Difference between revisions
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'''OVERVIEW''' | '''OVERVIEW''' | ||
Myanmar is a country that is undergoing massive transitions, including in the sphere of women's health care. You can obtain many forms of contraception (birth control), including pills, injectables and IUDs. | Myanmar is a country that is undergoing massive transitions, including in the sphere of women's health care. You can obtain many forms of contraception (birth control), including pills, injectables and IUDs. Emergency contraception (the morning after pill) is also widely available over-the-counter at most pharmacies and some drug stores. In Myanmar, a prescription is not required for emergency contraception. While there are places to get STI tests, and there are no travel/residency restrictions tied to STI status, there are not many resources available for treating STIs. Regarding menstrual products, pads are most commonly available, although you can find tampons at Market Place locations. Currently, Myanmar has no national HPV vaccination program or a PrEP program, although private and NGO clinics do provide services. Maternity leave is given to women (12 weeks and 66.7% of wages covered). Abortion is generally illegal, except for cases when the pregnancy endangers the life of the woman. While an underground abortion network exists in Myanmar, there are many unsafe providers and it is recommended that one exercises extreme caution if they wish to obtain an abortion. | ||
==Contraception (Birth Control)== | ==Contraception (Birth Control)== | ||
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In Myanmar, you can obtain birth control. According to a 2015 study, 52% of women in Myanmar (who are married or in unions) use any form of contraception, including traditional methods like the rhythm method or withdrawal. The number of women using modern methods of contraception is about 40%.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/jun/16/rural-myanmar-desperate-need-family-planning-services-access-contraception Baby blues: rural Myanmar’s desperate need for family planning services]</ref> The most common modern methods are injectables (29.4%), the pill (12.3%), female sterilization (3.8%) and the IUD (2.2%).<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref> In 2013, UNFPA reported that one in four women in Myanmar do not have their family planning needs met.<ref>[http://myanmar.unfpa.org/news/unfpa-sponsored-family-planning-centers-yangon-proof-myanmar-commitments UNFPA-sponsored family planning centers in Yangon proof of Myanmar commitments]</ref> However, this number may have improved since 2013. | In Myanmar, you can obtain birth control. According to a 2015 study, 52% of women in Myanmar (who are married or in unions) use any form of contraception, including traditional methods like the rhythm method or withdrawal. The number of women using modern methods of contraception is about 40%.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/jun/16/rural-myanmar-desperate-need-family-planning-services-access-contraception Baby blues: rural Myanmar’s desperate need for family planning services]</ref> The most common modern methods are injectables (29.4%), the pill (12.3%), female sterilization (3.8%) and the IUD (2.2%).<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref> In 2013, UNFPA reported that one in four women in Myanmar do not have their family planning needs met.<ref>[http://myanmar.unfpa.org/news/unfpa-sponsored-family-planning-centers-yangon-proof-myanmar-commitments UNFPA-sponsored family planning centers in Yangon proof of Myanmar commitments]</ref> However, this number may have improved since 2013. | ||
While women in cities like Yangon and Mandalay have easy access to contraception, | While women in cities like Yangon and Mandalay have easy access to contraception, women in rural areas face additional hurdles. It is commonly believed that contraception promotes promiscuity and is only meant for married women. Furthermore, sex education is not taught in Burmese schools, and sex before marriage is taboo. If a woman is having sex before marriage, the social stigma attached to her choices may discourage her from seeking out contraception. Village women often live in isolated environments that do not have easy access to nearby towns, and some dirt paths were washed away in past storms.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/jun/16/rural-myanmar-desperate-need-family-planning-services-access-contraception Baby blues: rural Myanmar’s desperate need for family planning services]</ref> | ||
In 2015, Myanmar introduced a family law that has been criticized as targeting Muslim minorities. According the law, signed by President Thein Sein, Myanmar's state or regional governments can now request a presidential order, which gives local authorities the power to "organize" when women have children (i.e. they can enforce gaps of 36 months between births). This legislation was driven by nationalist Buddhist monks who fear a growing Muslim population.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/25/burmas-birth-control-law-exposes-buddhist-fear-of-muslim-minority Burma's birth control law exposes Buddhist fear of Muslim minority]</ref> Among the parties that have expressed concern about the bill are the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. | In 2015, Myanmar introduced a family law that has been criticized as targeting Muslim minorities. According the law, signed by President Thein Sein, Myanmar's state or regional governments can now request a presidential order, which gives local authorities the power to "organize" when women have children (i.e. they can enforce gaps of 36 months between births). This legislation was driven by nationalist Buddhist monks who fear a growing Muslim population.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/25/burmas-birth-control-law-exposes-buddhist-fear-of-muslim-minority Burma's birth control law exposes Buddhist fear of Muslim minority]</ref> Among the parties that have expressed concern about the bill are the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. | ||
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* For information about which contraceptives are available in Myanmar, click [http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search?search.searchtext=&search.component=&search.countrycode=MM here]. | * For information about which contraceptives are available in Myanmar, click [http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search?search.searchtext=&search.component=&search.countrycode=MM here]. | ||
* Some of the '''birth control pills''' you can expect to see are Marvelon, Marvelon 28 and Microgynon ED, Exluton and | * Some of the '''birth control pills''' you can expect to see are Marvelon, Marvelon 28 and Microgynon ED, Exluton, Preme, OK Pills (PSI), Lydia Rosa (DKT), and Sure Pills (MSI). | ||
* If you want '''contraceptive injectables''', you can find Contracep, Depo-Provera, Megestron and Norignon. | * If you want '''contraceptive injectables''', you can find Contracep, Depo-Provera, Megestron, Andalan and Norignon. | ||
* If you want a '''contraceptive implant''', you can find Jadelle. | * If you want a '''contraceptive implant''', you can find Jadelle (2 rod) or Implanon (single rod). | ||
* | * Currently, only copper IUDs are widely available in Myanmar. Most common IUDs include the Copper T (10 year duration), Copper Y (lower-pain insertion, 5 year duration), Sleek or Multiload (5 year duration, smaller device ideal for women with smaller bodies or who have not experienced childbirth). Most hospitals with OBGYN departments offer insertion services. | ||
Recommended pharmacies: | Recommended pharmacies: | ||
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===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
*Birth control pills can cost anywhere between 200 kyats-6000 kyats | |||
*Cost per injectable, including medical service, is between 1500 kyats at local GP clinics to over 10,000 kyats at private hospitals. | |||
==Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)== | ==Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)== | ||
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===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
* In Myanmar, you can find EC at pharmacies and social marketing programs (e.g. PSI, DKT, MSI and PSIA). Some of the dedicated emergency contraception you can expect to see is Duet, ECee2, Pill 72, Postinor, Postinor-2 and | * In Myanmar, you can find EC at pharmacies, some convenience stores, and social marketing programs (e.g. PSI, DKT, MSI and PSIA). Some of the dedicated emergency contraception you can expect to see is Duet, ECee2, Pill 72, Postinor, Postinor-2, Pregnon, and Amor. For these brands, you should take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex. The are also single pill ECs available including 1SafePill, Norpill and Vonstrel 1.5. | ||
* If you can't access dedicated emergency contraception, you can use some oral contraceptives (birth control pills) as replacement EC. To do, remember that, in 28-day packs, only the first 21 pills can be used. You can take FMP (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). You can also take Anna, Microgynon or Microgynon 30 ED (for all of these brands, take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later). | * If you can't access dedicated emergency contraception, you can use some oral contraceptives (birth control pills) as replacement EC. To do, remember that, in 28-day packs, only the first 21 pills can be used. You can take FMP (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). You can also take Anna, Microgynon or Microgynon 30 ED (for all of these brands, take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later). | ||
* For more information on EC options in Myanmar, you can visit the [http://ec.princeton.edu/ Princeton EC website]. | * For more information on EC options in Myanmar, you can visit the [http://ec.princeton.edu/ Princeton EC website]. | ||