Mindanaotoday.com | NorMin tops teenage pregnancy rate in PH
By: Franck Dick Rosete
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Teenage pregnancy incidence in the Northern Mindanao region has decreased to 11 percent, but it is the highest rate among all regions in the entire Philippines, according to the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2022.
The survey result, which was reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Region 10 during the Northern Mindanao Regional Data Dissemination Forum on Friday, July 14, showed that the teenage pregnancy incidence in the region has dropped by 3.8 percent from the percentage rate in NDHS 2017.
The lowest incidence was recorded in 1993 and 1998, which both had an 8.2 percentage rate.
“Teenage pregnancy ranges from 2 percent, which was recorded in Region 1 and Region 5, to 11 percent, which was recorded in Region 10,” said Sarah Balagbis, chief statistical specialist of PSA 10 Statistical Operations and Coordination Division, during her presentation on Fertility and Family Planning.
Under the 11 percent teenage pregnancy incidence in the region, 7 percent of 15–19-year-old teenagers have ever had a live birth, 4 percent of teenagers were pregnant at the time of the survey, and less than 1 percent of teenagers have ever had a pregnancy loss.
Mylah Faye Aurora Cariño, director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 10, stressed that the problem of teenage pregnancy should be addressed, as the latest rate is still considered “high” despite the decrease.
“When our young children engage in sexual activities at a young age and get pregnant, it’s possible that they will have another baby, and it will destruct their development,” Cariño said in a mix of English and vernacular during the open forum.
The Northern Bukidnon State College, Cariño said, is currently conducting a study to identify the factors behind the high incidence of teenage pregnancy in the region. He underscored the ongoing study to provide more responsive strategies. It will possibly be finished within this year.
The NDHS only covers individuals aged 15 to 49 since the PSA follows the same format provided by their international partners.
But Cariño clarified that there are also below-15-year-old girls who got pregnant.
During the forum, it was reported that 67 percent of sexually active and unmarried women aged 15 to 49 years don’t use any method of family planning, which could possibly contribute to the teenage pregnancy incidence in the region.
The NDHS 2022 was carried out from May 2, 2022, to June 22, 2022, where 2,182 households in Northern Mindanao were surveyed by the 26 personnel of the PSA-10. The survey result will help the Philippine government monitor and evaluate population, health, and nutrition programs.
Neil Aldrin Omega, director of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Region 10, said the region having the highest incidence rate in teenage pregnancy is something that “we are not proud of.” However, he stressed the success in reducing the figure.
“I’d like to note that we are actually successful in reducing it from 14.7 percent in 2017 to 10.9 percent in 2022. Perhaps our efforts are not enough,” Omega said in his discussion on the same event, stressing the need to do more in order to resolve the problem.
The CPD-10 is preparing the Philippine Population Development Plan of Action for its implementation, which contains strategies to further combat the high percentage rate of teenage pregnancy. It has already been approved by the National Population Commission, and it is expected to be implemented within this year.
The Philippine Population Development Plan of Action 2023-2028 was crafted taking into consideration the results reported in the NDHS.
Among the strategies are the intensification of comprehensive sexuality education, providing access to family planning, maternal and child health implications, and socioeconomic interventions.
Socorro Gultiano, research associate of the Capitol University Research and Extension Office, also provided her thoughts about the high teenage pregnancy rate in Region 10, saying that despite the decrease, it still remained “worrisome.”
“These teenagers have compromised their own health, that of their babies, and their future as well,” Gultiano said in her presentation as one of the presenters of the said event.
The NDHS 2022 is the 7th demographic and health survey (DHS) conducted in the Philippines and was implemented by the PSA, with technical assistance provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through ICF under the DHS program. (MT)
###