MODULE 14 - CONCEPT PAPER

TITLE: TEENAGE PREGNANCY

INTRODUCTION

THE CAMPAIGN ABOUT TEENAGE PREGNANCY TARGETS BOTH YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN AND FOCUSES ON THE THEMES OF TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE, CHOICES, AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, WAS LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER 2000. ACCORDING TO A 2015 UNFPA SURVEY, THE PHILIPPINES IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA WHERE ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY IS ON THE RISE. IN THE COUNTRY, THERE ARE TEN MILLION GIRLS AGED 10 TO 19, ALL OF WHOM, LIKE SHAINA, HAVE AMBITIONS AND DREAMS. ACCORDING TO THE COUNTRY'S 2013 DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH STUDY, ONE IN EVERY FIVE GIRLS WILL BE A MOTHER BY THE AGE OF 19. EARLY CHILDBEARING CAN INCREASE RISKS FOR NEWBORNS AS WELL AS YOUNG MOTHERS. BABIES BORN TO MOTHERS UNDER 20 YEARS OF AGE FACE HIGHER RISKS OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHT, PRETERM DELIVERY AND SEVERE NEONATAL CONDITIONS. ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY IS GENERALLY NOT THE RESULT OF A DELIBERATE CHOICE; IT IS A CONSEQUENCE OF LITTLE OR NO ACCESS TO SCHOOL, INFORMATION, OR SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR POOR AND MARGINALIZED GIRLS WHO OFTEN HAVE LITTLE SAY OVER DECISIONS AFFECTING THEIR LIVES. TEEN PREGNANCY IS A MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN THAT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE POPULATION, WITH NEGATIVE REPERCUSSIONS FOR TEEN PARENTS, THEIR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES. LOWER BIRTH WEIGHTS ARE ONE OF THE MANY RISK FACTORS FOR TEEN MOTHERS AND THEIR NEWBORNS. INFANT MORTALITY HAS INCREASED.

PURPOSE

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT TEENAGE PREGNANCY? AS AN ASPIRING NURSE, I KNOW THAT THE PROGRAM'S FOUR MAIN OBJECTIVES ARE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CONCEPTIONS AND BIRTHS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE TARGET AREAS. TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY, EXPAND YOUTH ACCESS TO EVIDENCE-BASED AND EVIDENCE-INFORMED INITIATIVES. LINK TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS TO COMMUNITY-BASED THERAPEUTIC CARE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT TEEN PREGNANCY IS A HEALTH ISSUE THAT HAS AN EFFECT ON ALL OF US. A CHILD HAVING A BABY AS A TEENAGER IS MORE LIKELY TO FACE CRITICAL SOCIAL ISSUES LIKE POVERTY, POOR EDUCATION, RISKY BEHAVIORS THAT LEAD TO POOR HEALTH ISSUES, AND CHILD WELFARE. THE FINANCIAL COST OF TEENS HAVING BABIES IS FINANCIALLY DEVASTATING.

DESCRIPTION

EDUCATING THE YOUTH ABOUT SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, EVEN IN NON-FORMAL EDUCATION SETTINGS, AND NORMALIZING RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE ON THE TOPIC. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN PREVENTING TEENAGE PREGNANCY BECAUSE PROVIDING RIGHTS-BASED MEASURES TO HELP PREGNANT GIRLS AND YOUNG MOTHERS CONTINUE AND FINISH THEIR EDUCATION. CREATING VOCATIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. RISK FACTORS FOR TEENAGE PREGNANCY ARE BEING SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS, SINGLE MOTHERS' DATING BEHAVIORS, LACK OF POSITIVE FAMILY INTERACTION, LACK OF PARENTAL SUPERVISION, LACK OF POSITIVE PARENT-CHILD COMMUNICATION, AND MOTHER WAS A TEEN PARENT. AS A RESPONSE, THE GOVERNEMENT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD) AND THE COMMISSION ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT (POPCOM) WILL IMPLEMENT THE SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR ADOLESCENT MOTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN (SPPTMC) AS MANDATED BY THE SPECIFIC PROVISION TO ADDRESS TEENAGE PREGNANCIES IN THE COUNTRY.

SUPPORT

I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SHARE THIS CAMPAIGN FOR THIS TO REACH AS MANY TEENAGERS AS POSSIBLE.

CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT ME AT 09165354965 AND THROUGH MY FACEBOOK Lexi Dacayana.