Nanay na si Nene

Episode on July 14, 2008 Monday late night after Saksi How can you care for a baby, if you yourself are still a child? Teen mothers in the Philippines have never been unusual. But if decades ago, most teenage mothers were 16 or 17 years old . they are now getting pregnant as early as 12 or 13. This Monday, I-Witness' Sandra Aguinaldo meets very young mothers and mothers-to-be, and learns the difficulties they face having children at their age. At 13, Lealyn -- not her real name -- bears two very big responsibilities. Lealyn gave birth just five months ago to twins! She and her 17-year-old partner search for ways everyday to buy milk for their daughters, But more often than not, their babies' bottles are filled only with water and sugar. Belinda is 14 years old and five months pregnant. At her age, the girl can barely grasp the responsibilities that come with having a child. She has not visited an OB-Gyne or received any pre-natal care during her pregnancy. Critics blame the lack of available information about sex and reproductive health for these early pregnancies. In most classrooms, teachers only go as far as teaching students about the various parts of the anatomy, as well as menstruation, and circumcision. But sex itself is not discussed.

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Paano mo aalagaan ang isang sanggol, kung ikaw mismo ay isa ring paslit? Sa panahon ngayon, marami na ang batang mula edad dose hanggang katorse na nabubuntis! Sa dokumentaryo ni Sandra Aguinaldo para sa I-Witness ngayong Lunes, makikilala niya ang mga batang batang ina at malapit nang maging ina. Trese anyos pa lang si Lealyn pero dalawang malaking responsibilidad na ang kanyang dala-dala. Mayroon siyang kambal. Kasama ang asawang disisyete anyos pa lang, magkasama nilang binubuno ang pambili ng gatas ng mga bata. Pero dahil hindi pa handang maghanapbuhay, kadalasan, tubig lang na may asukal ang iniinom ng kambal. Makikilala rin ni Sandra si Belinda, na sa edad na katorse ay limang buwan nang nagdadalantao. Walang kamuwang-muwang ang dalagita sa mga paghahandang dapat niyang ginagawa para sa panganganak. Ni minsan, hindi siya nakapagpa-check up sa OB-Gyne.