TEENAGE pregnancy in Davao Region slightly declined but it is still prevalent, according to the regional Commission on Population (Popcom-Davao) on December 9.
The number of live births by mothers aged 10 to 19 years old is 9,510 in 2021 from 11,970 in 2020, according to the Reproductive Health Information System of the Department of Health shared by Popcom-Davao.
Sheryl Fernandez, information officer of Popcom-Davao, said that the prevalence of teenage pregnancy is due to different factors at play, including influence from peers, and access to online content and social media.
“Even family factors and institutional factors (are at play). The presence or lack of facilities catering to our adolescents,” Fernandez said during the Kapihan sa PIA media forum.
She added that parents are at the root or have the prime responsibility to teach children and teenagers about proper values but different government agencies are also strengthening reproductive health education for adolescents.
“Atong ginapakusgan kining ginatawag sa DepEd na comprehensive sexuality education diin atong gina-train, gina-capacitate atong mga (We are strengthening the comprehensive sexuality education wherein we train and capacitate our) in-school service providers, adolescent reproductive health coordinators on how to handle these concerns,” Fernandez said.
In line with this, different programs have also been implemented catered to parents and guardians that would guide them on how to help adolescents make responsible and informed decisions about their sexuality.
“I-incorporate ang adolescent sexual reproductive health sa ilang mga topics na gina-disucss (They should incorporate adolescent sexual reproductive health in the topics they discuss). We also conduct this program in Popcom which is Parent’s Education on Adolescent Health and Gender Development na atong gina-educate (wherein we educate) and create awareness for our parents,” she said.
As of the third quarter of this year, a total of 2,807 live births were recorded from women aged 15 to 19 years old.
The decline in teenage pregnancies was attributed to the efforts of different programs and available facilities for teenagers and adolescents.
As of today, Fernandez said Popcom-Davao has monitored 145 teen centers in the region that are either school-based or community-based where teens can get adolescent-friendly health and reproductive services.
“Kini na facilities naa ni safe space na maduulan si adolescent in case naa sila concerns sa ilang sexual health (These facilities provide a safe space in case they have concerns). Naa gyod hesitance ang mga adolescents na muduol sa health center kay they fear of being judged so dapat naa gyod ta facility na solely catering sa atong mga teens (We really see that adolescents are hesitant to go to health centers in fear of being judged that’s why it’s important to have a facility solely catering to teens),” she said. ICM