Over 22,000 teen moms experienced 'repeat' pregnancies -CPD

The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) said on Monday that the number of “repeat” teenage pregnancies in the country was increasing. 

Data from the CPD showed over 22,000 teenage girls aged 13 to 15 years old in the Philippines experienced repeat pregnancies. 

“Na-alarma kami ngayon… kasi more than 22,000 'yung repeat pregnancy. Ibig sabihin, nabuntis na, tapos nabuntis uli ng second, third, and fourth time,” said CPD Acting Knowledge, Management, and Communications Division Chief Division Mylin Mirasol Quiray in a public briefing. 

(We are alarmed because there are more than 22,000 repeat pregnancies. These are teenage mothers who have experienced second, third, and fourth pregnancies.)

“Factor ang pandemic, pero ang factor kasi talaga is cultural. Usually, pag nabubuntis sa community, pinagsasama ang nakabuntis at nabuntis na kabataan,” Quiray added. 

(One of the factors was the pandemic, but there’s also the cultural factor. Usually, when a girl gets pregnant, she will be asked to live with whoever got her pregnant.)

In February, the commission said the number of live births among mothers below 15 years old surged by 35 percent or 3,135 in 2022. The number of under-15 mothers likewise rose by 35.13%.

To address the rising figures, the CPD urged local governments to implement programs for the social protection of adolescent mothers and their children. 

The commission also called for the passage of a proposed Senate bill protecting teenage mothers. Its counterpart House of Representatives bill was passed in September 2023. — DVM, GMA Integrated News