Teenage maternal deaths up, NSO says

MANILA, Philippines – The number of teenage girls getting pregnant has risen while the number of underage marriages has decreased in the span of a decade.

National Statistics Office (NSO) administrator Carmelita Ericta said Tuesday babies born to teenage mothers increased from seven to 11 percent from 2000 to 2010, despite the rising trend of maternal deaths among teenagers in the country.

Ericta, who spoke at a forum organized by the non-governmental organization Forum for Family Planning and Development, said the proportion of maternal deaths doubled from 5 to 10 percent between 2000 and 2010.

The NSO reported that 616 girls below 15 years old gave birth to their first baby in 2000 while 102,724 from the age group 15-19 became mothers.

Ten years later, the figures rose to 1,260 and 174,085, respectively.

Maternal deaths among those aged 15 to 19 rose from 96 to 164 from 2000 to 2010.

Ericta noted that while more teenage girls got pregnant, the number of married teenage couples had gone down from 12,790 to 8,473 during the period.

Forum president Benjamin de Leon cited the need for all sectors to work together to help address adolescent reproductive health issues and teen pregnancy because of their health and economic implications to the country.

“A high rate of teen pregnancy also means a high risk for maternal deaths among our young girls,” De Leon said.

Based on the 2011 Annual Report of the United Nations Population Fund-Philippines, teenage pregnancy in the country rose from 114,205 in 1999 to 195,662 in 2009.

Globally, 14 to 16 million girls between 15 and 19 give birth annually and pregnancy-related conditions are the primary cause of deaths for this age group.

“It is alarming that almost 10 percent of all Filipino women aged 15-19 have already given birth – a reality that we must address,” De Leon said.

He added that teenage pregnancy could be addressed through better policies, improved education and information campaigns and programs to reach adolescents in schools, communities or wherever they may be. –Sheila Crisostomo, The Philippine Star