In July 2019, the Commission on Population (Popcom) stated that around 196,000 Filipinos between the ages of 15 and 19 years old get pregnant each year. According to the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) and the 2013 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFSS), the number of women aged 15-19 who have begun childbearing increased from 8% in 2003 to 10% in 2013.
The YAFSS study showed that the issue of adolescent fertility is important for both health and social reasons as children born to very young mothers are at increased risk of sickness and death. The study further said that teenage mothers are more likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes and to be constrained in their ability to pursue educational opportunities than young women who delay childbearing.
While teenage pregnancies are a growing problem for Philippines, the government is launching new initiatives to create awareness and encourage youth to treat pregnancy more responsibly.
Original article – https://pia.gov.ph/features/articles/1026925
Photo source – https://www.jhpiego.org/story/philippines-teen-centers-empower-pregnant-adolescents/
