TEENAGERS who get pregnant between the age of 10 to 19 years old have a higher risk of dying, a health official said.
Doctor Virginia Narciso, Department of Health (DOH)-Cordillera Child and Adolescent Health Development Cluster head, said teenage pregnancy maternal mortality is two to five times more than adults and cited sex abstinence as the best intervention for teenagers who get pregnant.
In the Philippines, DOH study shows 22 percent maternal deaths are common among mothers aged 15 to 24 years old while 20 percent of those who deliver at 15 to 17 years will be pregnant again in two years.
Children of teen moms have neonatal death rate three times higher, premature of 14 percent compared to the six percent among neonatal births to women 25 to 29 years old.
“For teenage moms, they have to prevent second and third pregnancy because there is a higher risk of dying on the part of mothers, risk of dying on their babies,” Narciso said.
Narciso also advocates on the use of contraceptives which can prevent early pregnancy and transmission of sexually transmitted infections like HIV.
“For teenage mothers, they have to avail of the adolescent friendly services for their babies such as immunization, newborn screening, proper care for their newborn babies, and regular checkup,” added Narciso.
In the Cordillera region, the youngest teenage mother was 10 years old who got pregnant because she was raped by her uncle.
Philippine Statistics Authority-Cordillera data release on 2018 shows the region had the least percentage of women 15 to 19 years old who begun childbearing with 3.5 percent compared to Davao region with the highest record of 17.9 percent.
Aside from maternal death among teenage moms, teenage pregnancy risk to health associate with hypertension, poor weight gain, anemia, sexually transmitted disease, miscarriage, multiple births, and placenta complications.
Unplanned pregnancy results to abortion, threatens the life of the mother, teenage depression and suicide. Higher rate of abuse and neglect, developmental delay, behavioral disorder and academic difficulties are also experienced by teenage mothers.
Social risk for early teenage pregnancy indicates social stigma still exist for unmarried teen moms. Delays of education and reduces economic potential and parenting ability.
For economic risk, young mothers with less economic support from parents lead to poor nutrition and health care for both the mother and child. Support from the father is also minimal.
Emotional risk, if marriage is force on pregnant adolescent has a higher probability of ending failure.
Benguet Provincial Social Welfare Development Officer Juana Bannawe mentioned social preventive measures for teenage pregnancy are being undertaken in the province such as strengthening the guidance of parents among their children.
Banawe cited major cause of teenage pregnancy is poverty, no funds for contraception, exploitation, drugs, alcohol and lack of religious affiliation.