JAMYKA B.

TAN 10-CHARITABLE ENGLISH

ASSESSMENT MS. EDUARTE MODULE 5

NO TO TEENAGE PREGNANCY

TOPIC: Teenage Pregnancy

I. What is Teenage Pregnancy?

A. Teenage pregnancy is defined as a teenage girl, usually within the ages of 13-19,

becoming pregnant. The term in everyday speech usually refers to girls who have not

reached legal adulthood, which varies across the world, who become pregnant.

However, it can include girls as young as ten.

B. Data of teenage pregnancy around the world.

According to official data of World Health Organization, every year, an estimated

21 million girls aged 15 to 19 years, and 2 million girls aged under 15 years

become pregnant in developing regions. Approximately 16 million girls aged 15

to 19 years and 2.5 million girls under 16 years give birth each year in developing

regions. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of

death for 15 to 19 year-old girls globally. Every year, some 3.9 million girls aged

15 to 19 years undergo unsafe abortions. Adolescent mothers (ages 10 to 19

years) face higher risks of eclampsia, puerperal, and systemic infections than

women aged 20 to 24 years, and babies born to adolescent mothers face higher

risks of low birth weight, preterm delivery, and severe neonatal conditions than

those born to women aged 20 to 24 years.

The teenage pregnancy rate in the Philippines was 10% in 2008, down to 9% in

2017. Live births by teenage mothers (aged 10-19) in 2016 total 203,085, which

slightly decreased to 196,478 in 2017 and 183,000 in 2018. Still, the Philippines

has one of the highest adolescent birth rates among the ASEAN Member States

(UNFPA). In 2019, adolescent births (below 18 years old) were at 62,510. It

dropped to 56,428 in 2020. The country's baseline target in the Philippine

Development Plan by 2022 is 37 births per 1,000, while POPCOM aims to reduce

teenage births by half, using the baseline of 57 percent teen births on the 2013

National Demographic Health Survey to 28 percent by 2022.

D. Why is it important to talk about teenage pregnancy?

Children are sexualized human beings, and it is important for them to

understand the sexual nature of their bodies. Sexuality education plays a very

significant role in the lives of both boys and girls in the prevention of HIV

and/or AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, as well as Teenage pregnancy. 

Teenage pregnancy carries other significant non-health risks which are specific to

this stage in the life course. For example, when a teenager bears a child and

consequently either marries formally or enters into a consensual union, she puts

herself at risk of not finishing her education and of limiting her chances of

realizing her full potential by being burdened with child care when she herself is

still, almost a child. If the teenager remains unmarried following a pregnancy, she

risks social stigma from having an out-of-wedlock pregnancy and of having to

so it is important to talk about.

II. Is teenage pregnancy Is a social problem?

A. Why teenage pregnancy is a social problem?

Teenage pregnancy is thus frequently both a marker of early social and economic

disadvantage and a source of additional disadvantage, emotional and physical

health problems. When compared to their peers, teen mothers are more likely to

be living on lower incomes, with lower educational attainment, and difficulties

with housing and family conflicts.

B. How does teenage pregnancy affect the society?

Teen pregnancy is a public health issue that affects all of us. A teenager who has a

baby is more likely to face critical social challenges such as poverty, poor

education, risk - taking behaviors that lead to poor health, and youth development.

III. What are the reasons/causes of teenage pregnancy?

A. Teenagers are especially susceptible to peer pressure. They also lack the

necessary education to make an informed sexual decision. Teenage pregnancy

risks increase dramatically when teenagers lack access to informative

reproductive resources, sexual health services, and other educational counseling.

The more informed they are, the better prepared they will be to avoid accidents

and make sound decisions.

Along with a lack of education, teenagers face a unique set of challenges that are

often linked to teen pregnancy. These include:

- Alcohol and drug use

- Low self-esteem

- Lack of future goals

- Sexual activity at a younger age

- Sexual abuse victims

- Poor performance in school

- Negative attitude about contraception

Poor peer relationships, sexually active friends, dating older people at a younger

age, and peer pressure to engage in sexual activity are all social risk factors. With

all of these issues bombarding teens on a daily basis, it's often difficult to resist

the pressure.

Teen pregnancy risks can also be increased by poor family circumstances.

Teenagers with better parental relationships are more likely to discuss sex and get

the information they need to avoid pregnancy. Those who are afraid of their

parents are at a much greater risk. Other concerns include:

- Negative interactions with family

- Poor or limited parental supervision

- Family history of teen pregnancies

- Single-parent families

- Significant unresolved conflict between family members

Some teenagers are vulnerable to rape and sexual abuse. Without contraception or

protection, these occurrences can also lead to teenage pregnancy.

A. Although the female body can reproduce and give birth as soon as menstruation

begins, this does not imply that a teen is emotionally, mentally, and/or physically

prepared. Teens who become pregnant before the age of 15 are at risk for anemia,

premature birth, low birth weight, higher infant mortality rates, pregnancy-

induced hypertension/high blood pressure, and the possibility of the baby's head

being larger than the pelvic opening. This can lead to complications during the

birthing process.

While pregnant, teenagers may experience depression and poor nutrition. If they

have more than one sexual partner or have not been practicing safe sex, they may

be at risk for sexually transmitted diseases, which can be harmful to the baby if

left untreated.

V. How to prevent teenage pregnancy?

A. Reduce Adult Discomfort with their own and adolescent sexuality.

- Raise community awareness that research is clear that there is no correlation

between sexuality education and increased rates of intercourse.

B. Develop a family approach to teenage pregnancy prevention promote healthy

sexuality.

- Provide sexuality education at all levels, including sessions for parents, peer

group activities and programs for young children.

- Recognize the association between child abuse/child sexual abuse and teen

pregnancy and work to develop prevention and intervention programs.

C. Promote caring, consistent adult involvement for every child.

in their children’s lives.

- Provide extra-curricular activities at a school and other community sites,

involving adults from the community as volunteer coaches, counselors, and

mentors.

D. Build healthy communities through sound economic and social development.

E. Promote media responsibility and counteract negative media images.

- Encourage broadcast and print media to take responsibility for establishing

ethical standards regarding both advertising and editorial portrayals of sexual

images of boys and girls, women and men, and sexuality and violence.

F. Teenagers must have a thorough understanding of abstinence, contraceptive

methods, and consequences in order to prevent teenage pregnancy.

REFERENCES:

Taylor, Rebecca. Buffum (2020, June 08) Teenage Pregnancy. www.webmd.com

Jones, Laure. (2021, January 22) What are the main causes of teenage pregnancy.

www.parentology.com

Cudis, Christine. (2022, March 9) POPCOM lauds LGUs’ initiatives to mitigate teen pregnancies.

www.pna.gov.ph

Adolescent pregnancy child watch (1996) Teenage pregnancy prevention.

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