Teenage pregnancy most important problem among women–SWS report

Majority of Filipinos considered teenage pregnancy the most important problem among women, according to a Social Weather Station (SWS) survey conducted in November 2020.

The survey, presented in a Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) press conference on Wednesday, stated that over 59% of 1,500 respondents from all over the country saw teenage pregnancy as the most important problem.

According to the presentation, 11% of the respondents also cited physical violence, while another 11% named unexpected pregnancies. Meanwhile, 7% said sexual violence was the most important problem, and another 7% said it was emotional violence.

Mindanao ranked the highest among those who answered teenage pregnancy as the number one concern, with a whooping 67% among local respondents.

Meanwhile, only one out of four (27%) adult Filipinos used family planning methods in the past six months. Among those who used family planning methods, pills is the most preferred method.

The rise of teenage pregnancy in the country has been declared as a “national and social emergency.”

According to POPCOM, the number of births among girls has risen in nine years since 2011. – RC, GMA News