Teenage pregnancy cases decline in Asia-Pacific, except in the Philippines

Sad, but true.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reports little change in the number of teenage pregnancy cases in the Philippines despite a significant decline in the Asia-Pacific region over the last two decades.

Sexual coercion, risky sexual behaviors, and lack of parental support are seen to contribute in the continuous threat of early pregnancy among teens in the country.

According to the report posted by Fritzie Rodriguez on Rappler.com,  15% of sexual encounters among Filipinas under 15 years old are linked to forced sex. Highly at risk in such situations are adolescent female workers aged 14 to 17 who are found to be more than 3 times less likely to negotiate condom use with their clients than their adult counterparts.

Risky sexual behaviors among teens include engaging in pre-marital sex, binge-drinking, and preference for unreliable methods of contraception. Lack of proper parental guidance has also been linked to early sexual initiation among teens, along with misguided influences from friends, the media and gender norms.



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