PH4PH: Preconception Health Awareness Week

WATCH OUT FOR THE LAUNCH OF OUR PH4PH CAMPAIGN VIDEO

Disclaimer: #PH4PH is a non-profit health promotion activity. It does not aim to promote any specific brand of supplement or fortified food product nor receive any form of support from any food or pharmaceutical company.

Main Objective of PH4PH Preconception Health Awareness Week

To increase public awareness on the importance of preconception health in attaining good health and well-being among women and men of reproductive age and instill the importance of preconception care in the prevention of birth defects and prematurity for better maternal and child birth outcomes in the Philippines

What is #PH4PH

#PH4PH stands for Preconception Health for the Philippines, a campaign spearheaded by VYLH-Philippines in partnership with partner youth organizations and other key agencies and institutions with the goal of promoting preconception health in the country. It is a national campaign to be launched on August 24-29, 2020. This event is held in conjunction with National Family Planning Month and the observance of International Youth Day (August 12).

Rationale of the Campaign

  • Preconception health is the health of women and men during their reproductive years. Preconception health focuses on taking healthy steps prior to pregnancy in order to protect the health of the baby that they may have in the future.

  • Overall, preconception health aims to improve the health status of women and men, irrespective of their plans to become parents, and reduce the risk of adverse maternal and child health outcomes such as birth defects and preterm birth.

  • With the 1.2 billion youth all over the world who can one day be the parents and leaders of the future generation, it is vital to make this sector of the population be fully aware of the importance of preconception health, as well as mobilize them to be a positive force to promote preconception health not only among their peers but to all women and men in the reproductive age.

  • Amidst this COVID-19 pandemic, aside from the need for better health awareness, we also recognize the need for increased knowledge on reproductive health and responsible parenthood, all of which is covered by preconception health.

What is YouthForPH?

YouthForPH stands for Youth for the Philippines. Youth for Preconception Health.

Youth for PH is the campaign network of VYLH-Philippines and partner youth organizations promoting awareness on preconception health in the country.

Institutional Partners

Institute of Human GeneticsNational Institutes of HealthUniversity of the Philippines Manila
March of Dimes

Contact YouthForPH


Should you have any comment, suggestion or clarification, please don't hesitate to contact us through our
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram @YouthForPHEmail preconhealth.vylh@gmail.com

The following are the sectors of the community which this initiative aims to reach:

Youth

Women and Men of the Reproductive Age

Health Workers

The youth corresponds to a significant portion of the population. Training the youth as volunteers and facilitators will augment the existing health workers of the community, especially in health promotion. The need to involve the youth is grounded on the sector’s invaluable role in nation building, as well as promote character development, instill volunteerism, and mold the future parents and leaders of the community.
As any woman enters puberty, she has the capability to get pregnant. Every Filipina needs relevant health information before pregnancy in order for them to make healthier choices and informed decisions prior to conception. Men also need to be informed on preconception health as a guide to living healthier lives and support the health choices of their partners. Together, informed couples will be equipped in planning each pregnancy.
Healthcare providers at the barangay and municipal level are in the forefront of service delivery to the people. Promoting their awareness on preconception health will help on cascading health information to the community.

Campaign Theme


2020Ha-L.I.N.C.-ka na! Preconception Health para sa malusog na pangangatawan at planadong kinabukasan
(Preconception health for a healthy body and planned future)

Ha-L.I.N.C.-ka na! Preconception Health para sa malusog na pangangatawan at planadong kinabukasan


Taon-taon, tinatayang aabot sa 15 milyon na sanggol ang ipinapanganak na preterm o “kulang sa buwan” habang 8 milyon naman ang mayroong birth defects sa buong mundo. Bukod sa dami, kasama ang napaagang panganganak at birth defects sa mga pangunahing dahilan ng pagkamatay ng mga sanggol. Maliban sa kamatayan, ang mga ito ay maaari din magdulot ng komplikasyong pangkalusugan at kapansanan na makakaapekto sa kakayahang pinansyal at pangkalusugan ng mga apektadong indibidwal, pamilya, at ng lipunan sa kabuuan.

Gayunpaman, may mga hakbang na pwedeng gawin bilang paghahanda para mabawasan ang posibilidad ng napaagang panganganak at ilang uri ng birth defects na maaring maiwasan. Ang mga hakbang na ito ay nakapaloob sa preconception health. Ang preconception health ay ang kabuuang kalusugan ng isang indibidwal na nasa “reproductive age” o ang edad na may kakayahan ang isang babae o lalake na magka-anak. Kasama na din dito ang kalusugan bago at sa pagitan ng bawat pagbubuntis.

Sa pamamagitan ng kaaalaman ukol sa preconception health, maaari mo maprotektahan ang iyong magiging anak at ang iyong sarili mula sa iba’t ibang komplikasyon. Higit pa rito, hindi lamang para sa mga may planong magkaroon ng pamilya ang preconception health. Ito rin ay para sa lahat ng nasa reproductive age na nagnanais na makaiwas sa sakit, mabuhay nang masigla at may malusog na pangangatawan.

Mahalaga ang pagpapaunlad ng kaalaman at pag-unawa sa preconception health. Ito ay makakatulong sa pagpapalakas ang ating katawan at kaisipan, pag-iwas sa impeksyon, pagkakaroon ng angkop na nutrisyon, at pagplaplano ng pamilya. Ang mga ito ay nakapaloob sa kaisipan o framework na tinatawag bilang “L.I.N.C.” (Health Lifestyle, Infection Prevention, Proper Nutrition, at Contraception and Planning the Family).

Kaya ha-L.I.N.C.-ka na at sumama sa pagtuklas ng iba’t-ibang konsepto upang mas maunawan kung paano mo mas mapapangalagaan ang iyong sarili at ang iyong pamilya! Halina’t makibahagi sa ating kampanya para maipakilala ang preconception health sa bawat Pilipino.


__________________World Health Organization. 2018. Preterm Birth. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/preterm-birth
March of Dimes. 2006. Global Report on Birth Defects. https://www.marchofdimes.org/mission/march-of-dimes-global-report-on-birth-defects.aspx

Suggested activities for partner organizations


  • Support the information dissemination of campaign messages (posts/ infographics/ videos) through one's own organization’s social media pages and websites.
  • Invite members/ employees/ followers to like/ follow/share the Youth for Preconception Health (@youthforph) Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram accounts;
  • Share official campaign messages and join online campaign activities
  • Join #YouthforPH fan sign campaign; and
  • Join and invite members for an online discussion on preconception health through the campaign’s webinar on August 29, 2020 at 7:00 PM (details to be posted in our page)

Key Messages and Hashtags


Like and Share all #YouthforPH campaign-related posts from the official social media pages @youthforph using your page. Encourage your members, employees, and social media followers to also share messages and posts from August 24-29, 2020.

Use the hashtags #PreconceptionHealthPH #haLINCkana #YouthforPH

Watch out for our official social media posts on the following components of the LINC Framework:

Join us for an online discussion on preconception health through our Preconception Health Webinar (August 29, 2020, 7PM)

Key Messages

  1. Preconception health is the health of women and men during their reproductive years.

  2. All women and men can benefit from preconception health whether or not they plan to have a baby one day.

  3. When we talk of preconception health, remember the L.I.N.C. strategy: (1) Healthy Lifestyle (2) Infection Prevention (3) Proper Nutrition (4) Contraception/Family Planning.

  4. Preconception health promotes observance of a healthy lifestyle which involves avoiding risky behaviours (smoking, alcohol drinking, abuse of drugs) and awareness on the effects of chronic conditions, stress management, and other lifestyle factors that may affect an individual's health, most especially conception and birth outcomes.

  5. Preconception health’s Infection prevention highlights self-awareness on possible common infectious diseases and awareness on the importance of immunization, with emphasis on immunization prior and during pregnancy

  6. Preconception health is about attaining proper nutrition through knowledge on healthy nutrition practices, prevention of nutrient deficiencies and understanding the role of nutrition during conception.

  7. Preconception Health is also about increasing awareness on the importance of family planning in having better maternal and child birth outcomes. It involves information on contraception options, the importance of knowing advanced maternal and paternal age to guide individuals, and helping them have informed choices.

  8. Preconception health helps improve maternal and child-birth outcomes.

  9. Ensuring preconception health is important in creating a healthy family.

  10. Everyone needs preconception health. We need to be individually healthy to ensure a healthy family in the future.