🇵🇭Philippines' teenage pregnancy the highest in Asia | Al Jazeera English

Summary

Teenage pregnancy rates in the Philippines have surged, contrasting the global decline, with the UN citing government cuts and lack of sex education as contributing factors. Vanessa, a 20-year-old mother of three, exemplifies the issue, having received no family planning advice or contraception. Despite the 2012 reproductive health law, which mandates sex education and access to contraception, budget cuts hinder progress. The Philippines, with a population over 100 million, grapples with addressing this escalating problem, with the government deferring action until after the May elections.

Takeaways

• 📉 Teenage pregnancy rates have generally declined worldwide over the past two decades, except in the Philippines.
• 🏛 Recent government cuts in the Philippines are exacerbating the issue of teenage pregnancies.
• 👶 Vanessa, a 20-year-old from a low-income family, is a mother of three due to lack of family planning advice and contraception.
• 📊 The Philippines tops the list of Asian countries with the highest number of teenage pregnancies, according to the UN.
• 🔢 Multiple partners and low condom use are cited as factors for the increase in birth rates among teenagers.
• 👩‍👧‍👦 One in ten young Filipino women aged 15 to 19 is already a mother, double the rate of a decade ago.
• 🏫 In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of implementing the reproductive health law, providing low-income earners with family planning services and free contraception.
• 🏛 Despite Catholic Church opposition, public surveys suggest widespread support for family planning in the Philippines.
• 💰 A significant budget for family planning initiatives has been reduced, impacting efforts to address teenage pregnancies.
• 👦👧 There is a call for sex education programs in schools that are equally accessible for both boys and girls.
• 🌐 The Philippine government is looking to private donors for funds for contraception amid a growing population and persistent issue of teenage pregnancies.

Q & A

What is the trend in teenage pregnancy rates globally over the last two decades according to the UN?

The trend in teenage pregnancy rates has been a decline over the last two decades globally, with the exception of the Philippines.

What challenges have been faced by Vanessa, a 20-year-old mother of three from a low-income family in the Philippines?

Vanessa, coming from a low-income family, was not provided with family planning advice or offered contraception methods, leading to multiple pregnancies from unsafe sex.

What was the significant ruling by the Supreme Court of the Philippines in 2012 related to reproductive health?

In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that it was constitutional to implement the reproductive health law, which granted low-income earners the right to family planning services and free contraception and mandated sex education in schools.

How does the influence of the Catholic Church affect the implementation of reproductive health and sex education in the Philippines?

Despite the Catholic Church's opposition to reproductive health laws and sex education, the wider public supports family planning, and the law was upheld by the Supreme Court.

What is the current situation regarding the budget for family planning initiatives in the Philippines?

The budget of over 42 million dollars earmarked for family planning initiatives has been cut back, which is concerning to experts who advocate for a new approach to sex education.

What is the current teenage pregnancy rate among young Filipino women aged 15 to 19, and how does it compare to the rate from ten years ago?

One in ten young Filipino women in the 15 to 19 age range is already a mother, which is twice the rate of ten years ago.

What are the two main factors contributing to the increase in birth rates among teenagers in the Philippines, as mentioned in the UN report?

The two main factors contributing to the increase in birth rates are multiple partners and low condom use among teenagers.

How does the script suggest addressing the issue of teenage pregnancy in the Philippines?

The script suggests that sex education programs should be equally available for both boys and girls in schools to address the issue of teenage pregnancy.

What is the current population of the Philippines, and how does the government plan to provide better access to family planning?

The population of the Philippines is now over a hundred million. The government is trying to find ways to provide better access to family planning but is looking to private donors for funds for contraception.

What is the stance of the government regarding the practical steps to address the issue of teenage pregnancy, and when will they address it again?

The government acknowledges the issue but seems hesitant to take practical steps. They have stated that they will address the matter again after the election in May.

What does Vanessa hope for her children regarding education and family planning information?

Vanessa wants to ensure her children get a good education and, when the time comes, the best family planning information.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Rising Teen Pregnancy in the Philippines

The script discusses the alarming rise in teenage pregnancy rates in the Philippines, contrasting it with the global trend of decline over the past two decades. Despite the country's progressive reproductive health law implemented in 2012, recent government budget cuts have hampered access to family planning services and contraception. The narrative is personalized through Vanessa's story, a 20-year-old mother of three from a low-income family, who lacked access to family planning advice and contraception. The United Nations Population Fund report places the Philippines at the top of the list for teenage pregnancies in Asia, attributing factors such as multiple partners and low condom use to the surge. The report also highlights the significant impact of sex education, or the lack thereof, on these rates, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive and comprehensive approach that involves both boys and girls.

Keywords

💡Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy refers to the conception of a child by a female under the age of 20. In the context of the video, it is a significant issue in the Philippines, where rates have increased contrary to the global trend. The script mentions Vanessa, a 20-year-old mother of three, as an example of this phenomenon, highlighting the impact on individuals and society.

💡UN Reports

UN Reports typically refer to data and findings published by the United Nations. The video script cites a UN report indicating that teenage pregnancy rates have declined worldwide, except in the Philippines. These reports are crucial for understanding global demographic trends and informing policy decisions.

💡Family Planning

Family planning encompasses the information, services, and tools that help individuals make informed decisions about their reproductive health and the number of children they have. The script discusses the lack of family planning advice and contraception offered to Vanessa, illustrating the challenges faced by young people in the Philippines.

💡Contraception

Contraception refers to methods or devices used to prevent pregnancy. The script notes that Vanessa was not offered any contraceptive methods, which is a key factor contributing to the high rates of teenage pregnancy in the Philippines.

💡Reproductive Health Law

The Reproductive Health Law, as mentioned in the script, is a legislation passed in the Philippines that guarantees the right to family planning services and free contraception for low-income earners. It also mandates sex education in schools, despite opposition from the Catholic Church.

💡Sex Education

Sex education is educational content about human sexuality, relationships, and reproduction. The script highlights the importance of comprehensive sex education in schools, as part of the Reproductive Health Law, to address the issue of teenage pregnancy.

💡Catholic Church

The Catholic Church is a significant religious institution in the Philippines, with a strong influence on social and moral issues. The script mentions the Church's opposition to the Reproductive Health Law, particularly regarding sex education and family planning, despite public support for these measures.

💡Low-Income Earners

Low-income earners are individuals or families with a limited income, often struggling to meet basic needs. The script discusses how the Reproductive Health Law was intended to provide this demographic with access to family planning services and free contraception, which is critical in addressing teenage pregnancy.

💡Budget Cuts

Budget cuts refer to the reduction of funds allocated for specific programs or services. The script reports that the budget for family planning initiatives in the Philippines has been cut, which undermines efforts to provide necessary services and education to combat teenage pregnancy.

💡Gender Equality

Gender equality is the state of equal rights, opportunities, and treatment for individuals regardless of their gender. The script suggests that addressing teenage pregnancy requires sex education programs for both boys and girls, emphasizing the shared responsibility in family planning and reproductive health.

💡Population Growth

Population growth refers to the increase in the number of individuals in a population over time. The script mentions the population of the Philippines exceeding one hundred million, highlighting the urgency of addressing teenage pregnancy and family planning to manage demographic challenges.

Highlights

Teenage pregnancy rates have declined globally but not in the Philippines, according to the UN.

Government cuts in the Philippines are exacerbating the teenage pregnancy situation.

Vanessa, a 20-year-old mother of three from a low-income family, did not receive family planning advice or contraception.

Vanessa's pregnancy was unexpected, highlighting the lack of awareness and education on safe sex.

The Philippines tops the list of Asian countries with the highest number of teenage pregnancies.

Multiple partners and low condom use are contributing factors to the increased birth rates.

One in ten young Filipino women aged 15 to 19 is already a mother, double the rate from ten years ago.

The 2012 Supreme Court ruling implemented the reproductive health law, providing rights to family planning services and free contraception.

Despite the Catholic Church's opposition, public support for family planning is high in the Philippines.

A budget of over 42 million dollars for family planning initiatives has been cut back.

Experts call for a new approach to sex education in the Philippines.

The pressure of teenage pregnancy is often placed on girls, but it is a shared responsibility.

Sex education programs should be equally available for both boys and girls in schools.

The Philippine population is over a hundred million, and the government is seeking ways to improve family planning access.

Vanessa aims to provide her children with a good education and the best family planning information.

The Philippine government will address the issue of teenage pregnancy after the May elections.

Despite laws being in place, practical steps for addressing teenage pregnancy are lacking in the Philippines.

Transcripts

teenage pregnancy rates across the world

have declined in the last two decades

except in the Philippines according to

the UN and those how ramen reports from

the capital recent government cuts

aren't helping the situation vanessa is

20 years old and a mother of three she

has two boys aged five and four from a

previous partner and a month-old baby

with her current partner from a

low-income family she was not given

family planning advice nor any methods

of contraception offered to her she

never thought that having unsafe sex

would lead to pregnancy my mind this

could happen

my mother just asked me one day why I

was not having my period anymore

she said in jest that it might be

pregnant it turned out I was after a

pregnancy test vanessa is not the only

one a recent United Nations Population

Fund report put the Philippines top of a

list of Asian countries with the

greatest number of teenage pregnancies

multiple partners and low condom use

were given as two factors for the

increase in birth rates the report says

one in ten young Filipino women in the

15 to 19 age range is already a mother

that's twice the rate of ten years ago

in 2012 the Supreme Court ruled that it

was constitutional to implement the

reproductive health law that meant

low-income earners have the right to

family planning services and free

contraception it also meant schools

would have to teach sex education

despite the opposition of the Catholic

Church which has a lot of influence in

the country while 80 percent of

Filipinos are practicing Catholics

surveys suggest that the wider public

supports family planning regardless of

the position of the church a budget of

over 42 million dollars earmarked for

family planning initiatives has been cut

back at a time when experts want to see

a whole new approach to sex education

the pressure is always on the girls

because when we look at teenage

pregnancy this frame does a girl problem

and yet if we look at it it's really

half the girls problem and half a boy

problem so the answer to this is to have

sex education programs that are in

equally for boys and girls in the

schools the population of the

Philippines is now over a hundred

million the government says it's trying

to find ways to provide better access

family planning but we'll look to

private donors for funds for

contraception Vanessa says she wants to

ensure her children get a good education

and eventually when the time comes the

best family planning information - the

question is how will the Philippines

government deal with an issue that is

getting more problematic each year while

the laws are in place it seems no one is

willing to take practical steps the

government says it'll address the matter

again after the election in May Sahil

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