DAVAO CITY–-The unchecked sexual abuses at home has contributed to the teenage pregnancy rate in Davao Region recently, according to the Department of Health in Region 11 (DOH-11)
Dr. Raquel Montejo, head of DOH-11 Family Cluster, said the various forms of abuse have been noted when patients go for pre-natal check-ups.
Montejo said teen pregnancy in Davao Region is as high at 16 percent or 15,357 cases of the total number of deliveries in 2016, or almost the same percentage in 2017 with 16,279 teen pregnancy cases.
Of the 16,279 cases in 2017, Davao Occidental posted the highest teenage pregnancy rate at 25 percent, followed by Compostela Valley at 22 percent; Davao del Sur at 19 percent; Davao Oriental and Davao del Norte at 16 percent; and, Davao City at 13 percent.
Montejo said sexual abuse is highly notable in teenage pregnancy cases among ages between 15 -19 years old, aside from mental health issues, dysfunctional family, financial and the risky behavior of teenagers.
Montejo also noted poor access to services and the right information as among the reasons why teenage pregnancy rates continue to rise.
Jeff Fuentes, chief City Population officer of the City Health Office, shared Montejo’s assessment.
At Monday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex, Fuentes said many of the teenagers lacked access to the right information, services, and protective measures because sex is barely discussed at home and in the community.
Generally, he said Filipinos find discussion on sex as taboo.
Fuentes said social media still fuels adolescents into early sexual activities, while “sexting”–or the act of ending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit messages–is prevalent in areas where there is poor internet connection.
According to Fuentes, the government is strengthening the promotion of the risk of early sexual activities with the Davao City government, in particular, establishing teen centers in eight public schools.
Fuentes said adolescents are tapped to run the teen centers on the premise that teenagers open up only to their peers.
Montejo said peer-to-peer education on early sexual activities is most effective, noting that pregnant teenagers do not commonly open to families, especially if the perpetrators are themselves family members.
Population Commission (POPCOM) Regional Director Bai Agnes Sampulna said there are already 186 teen centers in Davao Region, mostly located in Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte provinces.
Sampulna said these centers offer programs addressing early sexual activities. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)
