Preventing Teenage Pregnancy

The rising number of adolescent pregnancies in the Philippines as a result of the youth’s acceptance of premarital sex should be halted since it leads to pregnant women dropping out of school, being afraid due to a lack of understanding, and the society’s population growth rate continuing to rise.

Teenage pregnancy is one of the issues that the Philippines is now dealing with. The girl, her child, her parents and relatives, as well as the national society as a whole, are all victims of adolescent pregnancy. According to a United Nations Population Fund survey conducted in 2011, the Philippines ranked first among ASEAN countries with the highest prevalence of teenage pregnancy. According to Ugochi Daniels of the United Nations Population Fund Agency (UNPFA), the rising incidence of teenage pregnancies could jeopardize the country’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

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The first and most important factor is a lack of parental direction, as most parents want to keep their children from discussing sex. In certain circumstances, they give their children erroneous knowledge about sex and discourage them from participating in any instructive sex talk. Before becoming pregnant, some teenage moms are not sufficiently educated about sex, which leads to a breakdown in communication between parents and children.

The second category is adolescent sexual behavior. Peer pressure is a major factor that encourages adolescent boys and girls to engage in sexual activities. Another factor that contributes to teen pregnancy is early dating, which can begin as early as 12 years old.

The third issue is a lack of understanding about safe sex. The majority of teens are unaware of the need of having safe sex. They are unlikely to have access to typical birth control techniques. The main reason for this is that they are either too embarrassed or afraid to find out more about it.

Fourth, elderly males are exploited. Another important element that contributes to teen pregnancy is peer pressure. Girls who date older males have a higher chance of becoming pregnant before they reach womanhood. Rape, sexual exploitation, and other forms of violence are also common, resulting in unplanned pregnancies among adolescent females.

Finally, there are socioeconomic aspects to consider. Teenage females from low-income families are more likely to become pregnant as adults. Even in industrialized countries, researchers have discovered that teenage pregnancy is most common among the poor.

How can teenage pregnancy be prevented?

The only way to guarantee you won’t get pregnant is to avoid sexual contact. However, if you are sexually active, there are many ways to reduce your chances of becoming pregnant.

A study published in the journal PLoS One found that abstinence-only sex education was associated with an increase in teen pregnancies.

Many cities provide counseling and support services to help teens avoid becoming pregnant.

These organizations can provide birth control information and assist kids understand their personal sexual boundaries so they don’t end up having unprotected sex and becoming pregnant.

Some organizations include peer counseling since it may be easier to talk to someone your own age. For information about programs in your region, contact your local health department.