The number of girls aged 10-19 who got pregnant in Western Visayas remains high, latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.

The region recorded an early pregnancy rate of 9.28% in 2019, higher compared to 2018’s 9.3%.

Of the 105,225 total live births in 2019, 9,766 belonged to the 12 to 19 age group, a bit lower than 9,770 in 2018.

On the other hand, the number of live births from the 10-14 age bracket went up to 107 from 88.

The province of Capiz posted the highest early pregnancy rate in the region at 11.2%, followed by Guimaras (10.5%), Aklan (9.73%), Negros Occidental (9.6%), Iloilo province (9.5%), Antique (8.3%), Iloilo City (7.9%), and Bacolod City (4.3%).

“We are quite alarmed with the latest statistics that despite our demand generation strategies for information and services, teen pregnancies continue to increase,” said Commission on Population and Development (PopCom-6) director Harold Alfred P. Marshall.

“Considering the steady rise in teen pregnancy cases and the impact of pandemic, POPCOM-Region VI will double its efforts in mitigating pregnancy among our adolescents especially our young girls,” he further said.

As part of its efforts to address the increasing early pregnancies in the region, PopCom-6 strengthened its coordination with local government units (LGUs) and partner agencies in the implementation of the Adolescent Health and Development (AHD) Program.

Specifically, the program aims to reduce by half the proportion of adolescents who have begun childbearing and slash by half the proportion of repeat pregnancies.

To fit with the demand of time, a mobile application called “AHlam Na!” was also launched to reach more adolescents.

Based on PopCom’s survey, early pregnancy among adolescents is caused by complex and interrelated factors.

It can be attributed to several causes to include sociological, psychological, cultural, and even economic factors.

Also, it can be linked to lack of information, peer pressure, family problems, lack of refusal skill, inappropriate use of social media, sexual violence, and lack of access to services.

If not avoided, teen pregnancy often, according to PopCom, leads to dropping-out of school, social stigma and discrimination, repeat pregnancy, contribute to the endless cycle of poverty, emotions stability and even death (for the baby or mother).IMT