Alarming rise in teenage pregnancies noted

By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 09:07:00 02/27/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- While most girls their age are worrying about the gowns they will wear to their
junior-senior prom, Marie and Leilanie, both 16, have more pressing things to take care of.

Leilanie, not her real name, is eight months pregnant and is searching for a way to get her 19-year-old
live-in partner out of prison. He was arrested five months ago for stealing manhole cover in Caloocan
City.

“Wala po kasi kaming pera pambili ng pagkain kaya napagtripan niya ibenta yun (We had no money to
buy food so he thought of selling the cover),” the timid girl told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent
company of INQUIRER.net.

Leilanie said she wants to be with him when she gives birth to their first-born next month.

“I’m trying to be strong for our baby,” she said.

Marie, on the other hand, complained of getting little sleep at night because she has to attend to her three-
month-old son and her baby sister.

Marie said she misses going to the mall with her friends and playing street games.

“But I have learned to accept the reality of where I am now,” she said in Filipino.

“Nakakapagod lang po talaga mag-alaga ng bata, maghugas ng pinggan at maglinis ng bahay (But it’s
really tiring to take care of a baby, wash the dishes and clean the house),” she adds, smiling.

Teenage pregnancy

According to the Forum for Family Planning and Development Inc. (FFPDI), Marie and Leilani are just
two of millions of teenage mothers in the Philippines.

The group said the steady increase in the incidence of teen pregnancies in the country in the past few
years has reached an “alarming stage.”

“The problem lies in the government’s sincerity in addressing issues about population growth and
reproductive health,” Benjamin de Leon, FFPDI president, said in a news briefing in Quezon City on
Tuesday.

1.7 million babies

De Leon said the latest data from the National Statistics Office showed that of 1.7 million babies born in
2004, almost 8 percent were born to mothers aged 15-19.

Almost 30 percent of Filipino women become mothers before reaching their 21st birthday, he said.
In 2000 alone, young mothers gave birth to 818,000 babies, he said.

“This means that almost one of every 10 babies is born to a teenage mothers,” he said.

He said this number could be bigger as births after March 5, 2005, were not recorded.

“We need to help these children for they are the next generation of parents, workers and leaders. In order
for them to fulfill these roles… we must improve their access to education and information about
sexuality and reproduction,” De Leon said in a separate statement.

Kiko dela Tonga, of Likhaan Foundation, said a recent study done by the Population Institute of the
University of the Philippines showed that more than four million Filipinos aged 15-19 had already had
sexual intercourse.

He said more than half of these are from poor families who do not have knowledge about contraceptives
and reproductive health.

He said two of every five teenage pregnancies are unwanted ones; more than 46 percent of young
pregnant women resort to induced abortion.

One of every four teenage mothers, Dela Tonga said, quit school to focus on child rearing or to find a job
to help their families.

Risks

Medical studies likewise showed that 10 percent of babies born to young mothers are malnourished.

One of every five babies of teenage mothers dies of various causes, Dela Tonga said.

“These happen simply because young mothers are not ready emotionally, mentally and physically to rear
a child of their own,” said Dr. Gloria Itchon of the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines.

Dela Tonga said although premarital sex has become prevalent among the youth, Filipino families have
maintained its conservative view about sexuality and do not discuss the topic with their teenage children.

He said it’s very unlikely for typical parents to talk about issues regarding sex with their children.

“Although our society has become more liberated, it’s almost taboo for a family to talk openly about sex.
But teenage pregnancy and premarital sex are the realities that the Filipino youth are facing,” he said.

De Leon lamented that the leaders of the Catholic Church are still opposed to the use of condoms and
other contraceptives in their programs for reproductive health.

“We tried to present them the cases of (Marie and Leilanie). But they are just close-minded about the
issue of artificial birth control methods,” he said.

“We’re not telling the youth to engage in premarital sex. What we’re saying is that should they fail to
control themselves, there are available ways to protect themselves.”
Rising Teenage Pregnancy in the Philippines

Young People Need More Direct Counseling

May 9, 2009 Mary Anne Velas

More than sex education practices, direct counseling is needed in the light of rising teenage pregnancies.

Marlon Ramos of the Philippine Daily Inquirer mentioned in his February 27, 2008 article “Alarming
Rise in Teenage Pregnancies Noted” that almost 8 percent of 1.7 million babies born in 2004 “were born
to mothers aged 15 to 19.”

A TV program in ABS-CBN also recently tackled this trend and featured young men who have already
sired their firstborns. Among those interviewed was a managed 15 who is forced to work in a fishing port
at a daily wage of 300 pesos (roughly US$6.25) in order to feed his live-in partner and their new-born
daughter. Asked whether he knew the consequence of having sex, he regretfully said, “It is easy to do that
sex thing but once the baby is there…you then realize it is difficult."

In a fairly conservative country where a majority of the population is Catholic, it may seem ironical that
its younger generation seems sexually adventurous. Are they really more adventurous when compared
with their counterparts in other countries? Or is it really a question of lack of sex education and
counseling?

Sex Talk is Not the Norm

Young people interviewed for this article generally feel that educators and even their parents avoid the
topic of sex. What they know about sex is what they hear from peers, read from magazines or watch in
DVDs. They say that it is very seldom that they can openly talk about sex with their parents or teachers.

Granted that some of them may know the consequence of having unprotected sex, it still leaves doubt
whether they are emotionally strong enough to resist the temptations of the pleasures associated with it.

Not Just Sex Education but Counseling

That is why it is very important to inject serious counseling side by side with sex education. It is one thing
to know the biological and science aspect of having babies, it is entirely another matter to really
understand the meaning and responsibilities of parenthood.

If there is a module on sex education that will show a documentary, for instance, of a teenage parent who
is forced to quit school and work as a laborer on a 300/day wage, then it can be a more effective deterrent
rather than explaining the A to Z of the human reproductive system. In school, these young people at
certain age groups or grade level can have workshops where they can be encouraged to talk freely about
sex. There should also be face-to-face counseling sessions with sex educators who can meaningfully
mentor them about the real consequence of unwanted or teenage pregnancies.

Out-of-School Youth Face Higher Risk

If schools can have this kind of sex education and counseling practices, what about the need of young
people who cannot attend school due to poverty? It may seem appropriate to assume that this sector needs
more focus.

For one, they have more free time for social interaction and consequently, more chances at sexual
encounters. Secondly, most of them live in depressed communities and are therefore situated in families
where parents are more focused on how to earn a living rather than on giving their children counseling
about sex. Worse, their parents could be siring more children than what they can really afford. Thus,
children in these families may tend to think like their parents, i.e., having more children mean getting
more “blessings.”

It is therefore also crucial to have both meaningful sex education and direct counseling in both formal and
non-formal education systems. Schools can easily adopt a more relevant curriculum while local
governments (i.e. barangays) can implement sex counseling programs directed towards the youth
especially those who have no access to formal education.
Psychological aspects of teenage pregnancy

Borneo Bulletin Writer Jan 2nd, 2010

WHAT are the outcomes for the young fathers?

Outcomes are more or less the same as the teenage mothers. Other outcomes:
Do not involve themselves very deeply in their new role Studies in developed countries have shown they
may leave the child’s mother during pregnancy or within the two years after birth Faced with anger or
hatred by the girls’ families although he wants to be involved in the care of the child Do not develop
bonding with the child as he may blame the child for “ruining his life”

What are the outcomes to the families?

The family’s “good name” is potentially ruined
- Forced to “lose their child” and look after another child
- Have to support the child and grandchild financially and emotionally – Because the pregnancies
are unplanned and unwanted, it can cause to unstable relationships such as:
- Hostile distant relationship between parents
- A poor relationship with both parents
- A contemptuous relationship with the mother
- An unsatisfactory or distant relationship with the father

What are the outcomes for the younger sibling of a teen mother?

They are more likely to:

- Accept sexual initiation, parenting and marriage at a younger age
- Tolerate single parenting
- Place less importance on education and employment – Be exposed to high risk behaviour
- Become a babysitter to the teen’s child
- Be more pressured to be a high achiever to make up for the “loss” of the elder sibling’s future
- Be overprotected by the parents or families for fear of the same “mistake” happening to them

What are the medical consequences of teenage pregnancy?

- Most teenagers do not seek prenatal care. If they do, they do it during the third trimester.
- Difficult and prolonged labor due to small pelvic bone.
- High blood pressure in pregnancy usually occurs in the first
pregnancy and can lead to other complications such as heavy bleeding and fit/convulsion.
- Unsafe abortion.
- Low birth weight of the baby.
- Higher rate of mother and infant death.
- Risks to getting sexually transmitted disease, HIV, AIDS.

How is teenage pregnancy related to sexually transmitted disease, HIV, AIDS?

- Risks of sexually transmitted disease and HIV infection because of unprotected sex and or
multiple partners.
- The highest rates of STD worldwide are among young people aged 15 to 24.
- Pregnant women can become infected with STDs and STD s can be passed from pregnant
woman to the baby before, during, or after the baby’s birth.
- The consequences of an STD can be significantly more serious, even life threatening, for a
woman and her baby

What can teenagers do when they are pregnant?

Seek help or talk to:

- Your parents
- Teacher
- Counselor
- Doctor and health care provider
- Social welfare officer
- Seek medical care at the nearest health centres or clinic for antenatal care/checkup. Early
antenatal checkup is important to monitor the wellbeing of the mother and the baby.
- Do not keep your pregnancy as a secret or don’t wait to talk to someone as you can’t hide the
pregnancy longer. Have faith in your family and friends or teachers. Parents would be angrier if
you don’t tell them earlier.
- Go to the nearest doctor or health clinic for antenatal care/ checkup. Early antenatal checkup is
important to monitor the wellbeing of the mother and the baby.
- Don’t make another mistake or put yourself in a dangerous situation by attempting to harm the
baby or to go for an illegal abortion.

How can teenagers avoid becoming pregnant?

- Remember that your body is your responsibility.

- Abstinence or avoid having sex.
- You are responsible for your actions and life.
- Protecting your health and also your feelings is your priority. – Do not let anyone pressure you
into having sex.
- You have every right to say “No, not yet”.
- You can always say ‘no’ even if you’ve said “yes” before.
- The boy/man who really loves and respect you will not ask for sex before marriage.
- It is normal and healthy not to have sex until marriage. It is the best way to be physically and
emotionally healthy.
- Avoid taking alcohol or drugs that can impair your judgment.
- Avoid going out with a strangers or even with guys whom you just come to know from chatting
through the Internet or MSN.
- Do not go out with men/boys/boyfriends/”friends” at nights or at secluded places. Don’t let him
take you to his room alone.
- Avoid reading or viewing pornographic material.
- If our culture and religion prohibit such behaviour, it is still wrong even though your friends are
doing it too. Your friends also can make mistakes, so don’t just follow their behaviour.
- Get involved in more meaningful activities such sports, exercises, cultural activities, religious
activities or other volunteer works.
- Be aware of the consequences including Sexually Transmitted Infections and unwanted
pregnancy.

What can parents do to prevent teenage pregnancies?

- Get to know your children.

- Ensure a strong, close relationship with your children.
- Know what your kids are watching, reading and surfing on the Internet.
- Supervise your children.
- Talk with your child early about sex and its consequences. – Know your children’s friends and
their families.
- Discourage early, frequent and steady dating.
- Take a strong stand against your daughter’s boys who are significantly older.
- Help teenagers have options for the future.
- Let your children know you value education.

What can society as a whole do for the teenage parents?

- Accept them. Don’t punish them and their innocent babies. – and guide them to the future or
the right path.
- Give them equal opportunities to education, employment, etc.
- If we don’t, they will be further away from society and disadvantaged.

Myths about pregnancy and contraception:

- The prevalence of these myths supports ignorance about the risks of pregnancy (Loignon
1996).
- A woman cannot become pregnant the first time she has sex. It is impossible to become
pregnant during one’s period.
- There is no risk of pregnancy if the man withdraws before ejaculating.
- A woman cannot become pregnant if she does not have an orgasm.
- Having sex standing up or with the woman on top prevents
pregnancy.

Ministry of Health Public Awareness Programme

By Alinah Hj Tamin Clinical Psychologist
Department of Health Services Ministry of
Health, Negara Brunei Draussalam
Survey May Explain Steady Teen Pregnancy Rate

CDC Finds 6% Percent Jump in Use of "Rhythm Method" Since 2002; More Teens Also Say
Unmarried Motherhood OK

(AP) A growing number of teen girls say they use the rhythm method for birth control, and more
teens also think it's OK for an unmarried female to have a baby, according to a government
survey released Wednesday. The report may help explain why the teen pregnancy rate is no
longer dropping.

Overall, teenage use of birth control and teen attitudes toward pregnancy has remained about the
same since a similar survey was done in 2002.

But there were some notable exceptions in the new survey by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.

First, about 17 percent of sexually experienced teen girls say they had used the rhythm method
— timing their sex to avoid fertile days to prevent getting pregnant. That's up from 11 percent in
2002.

They may have been using another form of birth control at the same time. But the increase is
considered worrisome because the rhythm method doesn't work about 25 percent of the time,
said Joyce Abma, the report's lead author. She's a social scientist at the CDC's National Center
for Health Statistics.

The survey results were based on face-to-face interviews with nearly 2,800 teens ages 15 through
19 at their homes in the years 2006 through 2008. Trained female interviewers asked the
questions.

It found that about 42 percent of never-married teens had had sex at least once in their life. Of
those teens, 98 percent said they'd used birth control at least once, with condoms being the most
common choice. Those findings were about the same as in the 2002 survey.

The increase in the rhythm method may be part of the explanation for recent trends in the teen
birth rate. The teen birth rate declined steadily from 1991 through 2005, but rose from 2005 to
2007. It dropped again in 2008, by 2 percent.

"We've known the decline in childbearing stalled out. This report kind of fills in the why," said
Bill Albert, a spokesman for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

Teen attitudes may be big part of it. Nearly 64 percent of teen boys said it's OK for an unmarried
female to have a child, up from 50 percent in 2002. More than 70 percent of teen girls agreed, up
from 65 percent, though the female increase was not statistically significant.
The survey was conducted at a time of some highly publicized pregnancies of unmarried teens,
including the Bristol Palin, the daughter of former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin,
and Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney's kid sister. The 2007 movie "Juno," a happy-ending tale of a
teen girl's accidental pregnancy, was popular at the time.