Cordillera sees 2.6% rise in teenage pregnancy over past 4 years

Baguio City, Philippines - Teenage pregnancy is now a major concern in the Cordillera region, as the number of pregnant young women in the region has increased in the past four years, according to the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey.

Being pregnant at a young age, according to health experts, is risky and may lead to complications.

Based on the survey, women ages 15 to 19 who were pregnant in Cordillera were at 6.1 percent in 2022, an increase of 2.6 percent from 3.5 percent in 2017.

As cited, insufficient information and education are the primary contributors to the rising incidence of teenage pregnancy in the region.

For said reason, the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP) is conducting various activities, particularly in the youth sector, to address the issue.

Those activities include the provision of sex education for teenagers, and peer-to-peer education, among others.

Likewise, the organization also recognizes the vital role of families in providing fundamental sexuality education to children, encouraging them to collaborate in breaking the cycle of teenage pregnancy.

Currently, FPOP has offices in Baguio and Benguet and said offices continue to render its services, especially to the poor or underserved.