Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy
Introduction
Over the past few decades, teenage pregnancy has become a public concern which has generated a great deal of attention in the locality. Increasing awareness of the social and economic consequences of teenage pregnancy has led to a consensus opinion among policy makers and the public that teenage pregnancy and child bearing is a significant social problem. It has been linked to an array of other social issues, such as welfare dependency, child health and well-being, out of wedlock births, fatherhood responsibility, child abuse and neglect, school drop-out and workforce development.
(Torivillas, The Philippine Star, 2013). There was a strong agreement that teenage pregnancy rate is still on the increase and reducing the number of births by this age group remains an important goal Scott (1981). The frequency of teenage pregnancy among the youth is alarming and has become more or less a fact of life in many nations of the world including Philippines. This remains both culturally deleterious and personally destructive. Teenage pregnancy has lots of effects on Educational Development of teenagers who are victims of this phenomenon.
The Philippine government and other religious institutions are studying every angle to look for ways to reduce untimely pregnancy among teenager. These are many factors which have been recognized by researchers and authors as being responsible for teenage pregnancy. It has been noted and well documented that today’s teenagers face more sexual temptation than previous generations. They seem to be more aware of sex and susceptible to the dangers of illicit sex. Today’s society is more bombarded with sexually oriented materials in the environment. Theteenager are more vulnerable to sexual temptations. Health and Home, Philippines, Pregnant at 16, p.12-13 &22).
According to Eruesgbefe, (2005). “Today’s teenagers have become more sexually active and promiscuous compared to their age mates of some thirty, forty or fifty years ago in the Nigerian situation”. He also asserted that, “The gradual departures from the traditions, customs and religious doctrine of the different ethnic groups on the premise of civilization have been largely responsible for this. Community and families must work hand in hand to shield their teenagers against these phenomena. Increases in both health and social problems are products of uncontrollable multiple sex partners among teenagers. Mainly because the youth cannot control their emotional feelings, they rush into untimely sex, in the belief that the act will be undetected.
According to Albano (2001). In the Philippines, usually in a family, this category are not taught family life education by their parents and schools because of the sensitivity of the issue, this is contrary to the wide assumption that family life education is on. In practice, however, not much of sex education is taught in every Filipino family. Existing government family planning programs have been directed principally married couples.
Since Maramag is still a growing community, cases of teenage pregnancyusually become a big issue to the neighbors and to the whole community. The family of the victim is in trauma discovering that their teenager was some months on her way already. Almost everybody is blaming the pregnant teenager of the consequences of her misdeeds.
They focused their judgment to the victim but they did not bother to ask why and what were behind of indulging sex at teens and got pregnant not at the right time.
The Philippine government through some of its agencies like Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Education (DepEd), introduced some strategies to minimize the increasing cases of pregnancy as observed after a decade in the Philippines. Sex education is being incorporated to the subject matters in school. RH bill could be a big help to let the teenagers know how to act about sex. Filipino families and communities is properly informed about their responsibilities to their youngsters with regards to sex. While teenagers whenever they are must be reached to educate and be well informed how to counter early pregnancy.
While religious sectors are also showing concerns about the teenagers by intensifying the activities at the church and detour their interest while they are still young and not yet prepare to face the consequences brought about early sex. The churches now are also don’t want to left behind on nurturing the youths by instilling to their minds that early sex out of wed luck has consequences and the consequences hurt more than waiting. (Health and Homepp.13,2003).