BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Health - Cordillera (DOH) emphasized the importance of concerted efforts of the different stakeholders to reduce teenage pregnancy in the region.
 
During the  recent  Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS) Assembly, DOH-CAR reported increase of live births among adolescents from age 10 to  age 14 in the region. As of August 2022, there are already 26 live births among said age group, higher than the 17 cases reported in 2021.

There are also 1,251 live births among women from ages 15 to 19 in the Cordillera, which makes up 8.46% of the total livebirths for all women in the region.
 
The province of Apayao logged  the highest adolescent birth rate at 30.62% followed by Mountain Province and Abra with 20.98% and 17.59%,  respectively. Benguet has the lowest adolescent birth rate at 8.89%.

DOH-CAR Senior Health Program Officer Albert Jose Sumadchat said the figures are alarming especially that there is already one maternal death among the teenage mothers, and eight neonatal deaths in the region this year.
 
Based on the PSA Registered Deaths in the Philippines 2022, the top cause of maternal deaths among women under 15 and 15-19 years old is postpartum hemorrhage   as their bodies are not yet ready in giving birth.
 
"Whole of government approach talaga. Ang call for action po natin is to make local policies and allocate resources to implement the recommended strategies to reduce teenage pregnancy," Sumadchat emphasized.

He presented some  recommended strategies to reduce teenage pregnancy  that include increased resilience and protection, better fertility rates management, data statistics evidence, and use of media and communications in advocating the rights and well-being of adolescents.
 
He added that there is also a need for budget for the implementation of social protection mechanism, adolescent and youth friendly services, and provision of parental skills for adolescents and youth which will be realized thru inter-agency coordination and collaboration.
 
In 2013, the Cordillera topped the list of regions with most number of teenage mothers. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)