Teen pregnancy remains worrisome— Popdev
TEENAGE MOTHERS. (INQUIRER file photo/MARIANNE BERMUDEZ)
MANILA, Philippines— Teenage pregnancy rates have dropped, but it remains a concern for the Population and Development Commission (Popdev).
The primary concern lies with females aged 15-19, as the 2022 Philippine National Demographic Health Survey indicates.
The survey showed 5,531 girls have experienced giving birth, have experienced pregnancy loss, are currently pregnant, or have been pregnant.
The number represents 5.4 percent of girls between 15 to 19 nationwide.
Nevertheless, the figure is still lower compared to eight percent in 2017 or ten percent in 2013
Aside from this, Popdev executive director Lisa Bersales said the commission is looking at teenage pregnancy trends in girls aged 10 to 14.
“They are still considered ‘children,” she emphasized.
“We need to work more on our teenagers to lessen—if not make zero—pregnancies among them,” she said.
“As we have always maintained – each teenage pregnancy is one too many,” the government official added.
RELATED STORIES:
1 out of 10 of live births in PH are to adolescent moms — PSA
Numbers fall but PH teen pregnancies persist, mirror economic, learning gaps
Teenage pregnancies: P35B annual PH loss, other costs
