Decline in teenage pregnancies in Pangasinan noted

By February 21, 2021Inside News, News

WHILE an alarming rate of increase in teenage pregnancies was aired recently, the Commission on Population in the Ilocos Region (PopCom-1) indicated there is a decline in cases in the region, particularly in Pangasinan that only recorded two cases in 2019.

PopCom-1 information officer Ma. Cristina Martinez said the cases of the two 12 years old girls were recorded in Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“Pangasinan had the most cases of teenage pregnancy in Region 1 because of the higher number of adolescents compared to other provinces in the region,” she told Aksyon Radyo on Thursday.

Martinez added there is, in fact, a decline in the number of teenage pregnancy in the region compared to the 2018 data.

“The increase of adolescent birth rate is very alarming. However, Region is 1 is not included in the Top 5 national data,” she said.

She said the population commission initiated various interventions to raise awareness among the youth and their parents, particularly among children living in rural areas that were not able to finish or were not given the chance to go to school.

“PopCom initiated intervention called adolescent health and development program wherein we do not only focus on teenage pregnancy but we address all other concerns of the youth,” she said.

Martinez underscored that parents also play an important role to curb teenage pregnancy. She urged parents not to be afraid of talking about sex education at home to avoid curiosity which later on may lead to premarital sex.

She said the community quarantine that forced children to stay home may have helped in the decline.

Meanwhile Martinez underscored the importance of integrating comprehensive sexuality education in the curriculum of elementary pupils and high school students to reduce incidences of teenage pregnancy, population growth, and sexual diseases. (Jerick Pasilao)

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