The Negrosanon Young Leaders Institute Inc. (NYLI) on Friday, March 8, called for intensified comprehensive sex education efforts in both homes and schools, alongside the expansion of accessible adolescent-friendly health services.
The NYLI, in a press release, cited the staggering 35 percent surge in teen pregnancies between 2021 and 2022.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said with 11,297 teen pregnancies in the province in 2022 and 2023, the situation is a grave matter warranting serious attention.
The high number of adolescent pregnancies in the Philippines, which ranks among the highest in Asia, is caused by entrenched social and cultural pressures, widespread poverty, insufficient sex education, and limited access to contraceptives, NYLI said.
Despite the legal age of consent being raised from 12 to 16 in 2022, adolescents under the age of 18 still encounter hurdles, as written parental consent remains a prerequisite for accessing contraceptives, hindering timely and confidential reproductive healthcare, it added.
The consequences of adolescent pregnancies are profound, often resulting in adverse health outcomes for both mother and child, coupled with diminished educational and economic opportunities for young mothers, it added.
Shockingly, mothers under 15 face twice the risk of complications and mortality during pregnancy or childbirth compared to women aged 20 to 30.
NYLI said it is actively engaged in addressing these pressing issues through Project SEX Z, a comprehensive initiative aimed at facilitating communication between parents, caregivers, and adolescent children about sexuality and reproductive health.
This program integrates Child Protection, Sexual Health and Rights, and Community Response to combat the escalating HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, and incidences of child sexual abuse and exploitation in the Philippines, it added.
Over the past year, Project SEX Z has made significant milestones, including the training of 1,132 adolescent reproductive health champions in Negros Occidental, the development and dissemination of toolkits, the production of 10,000 informational materials, and conducting of two research studies, the press release said.*