Teenage pregnancy increasing in Ifugao says UNFPA

The issue on increasing teenage pregnancy in the province of Ifugao cropped up as a major concern of implementing government and non-government agencies during the start of the three-day UNFPA’s (United Nation Population Fund) 6th Country Programme of Assistance Project Implementation Review here.

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Miriam Baguidudol, the Provincial Division Chief of the Provincial Sustainable Development Division (PSDD) said that a baseline survey was conducted recently by their office to identify issues and concerns among the young and why this concern is happening to said sector.

The survey shows that there is a trend of teenage pregnancies in the province. In 2006 there were 265 cases of teenage pregnancies; 293 cases in 2007; 305 cases in 2008; 342 cases in 2009; 472 in 2010, and 248 cases from January to June this year.

Topping the causes of teenage pregnancies is drunkenness which occurs mostly in boarding houses and public places. “Due to lack of guidance of parents, teenagers tend to be influenced by their peers,” Baguidudol said adding that when they got drunk they did not know what they are doing.

She also mentioned media as another factor of teenage pregnancy. Movies and social networking like the internet contribute to increasing cases of teenage pregnancy since the young are curious of trying what they watch, she averred.

To counter said issue, the PSDD established teen centers in schools such as the Ifugao State University where Adolescent Reproductive Health issues and concerns are being taken up and information materials are displayed for the youth to read.

In trying to cope with modern technology, the PSDD launched recently the text tanong wherein teenagers ask questions to the hotline of the PSDD and the staff will give the right answer.

Baguidudol said that they find this effective since most of the young ones are shy to come out into the open to tell their problems as adolescents thus when this text tanong was launched, the PSDD received many concerns from the youth and were acted upon immediately.

Ifugao is a beneficiary of the UNFPA’s 6th Country Programme for the development of the youth with three indicators namely RH component, gender component and population and development strategies. - (PIA / by Vency D. Bulayungan)

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