ILOILO – Despite government and school-based interventions, Western Visayas continues to grapple with high rates of adolescent pregnancies, prompting medical practitioners to stress that the first line of defense lies at home — mothers must find time to openly discuss sex education with their children.
Oton Municipal Health Officer Dr. Sally Ticao emphasized that while schools and health agencies integrate reproductive health into their programs, parental communication remains irreplaceable.
“Yes, parents can talk to their children about sex education, but the way a mother approaches the topic is vital. Sometimes parents and their children may not even feel at ease discussing these issues directly… having a third party listen in could help guide the conversation,” she said.
Ticao noted that conversations should begin as early as age 12, when children start to mature emotionally.
“I believe that children should receive guidance before they enter first grade or seventh grade. By the time they graduate from elementary school, they should already have some understanding of these topics,” she explained.
Although official data suggest that adolescent pregnancy cases have declined, Ticao warned that the age of occurrence has dropped, with girls becoming mothers at even younger ages. To address this, she said both boys and girls must be educated on reproductive health by the time they finish elementary school.
The Rural Health Unit (RHU) of Oton partners with the Commission on Population and Development (CPD)-6, teachers, nurses, and the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) in reaching out to high school students.
Ticao, however, prefers classroom-based sessions rather than large assemblies.
“In this way, students tend to engage in discussions and share their feelings. If it’s a large audience, they mostly just listen and aren’t able to express their thoughts, fears, and hesitations,” she pointed out.
Beyond institutional efforts, Ticao cautioned that busy parents often neglect the emotional needs of their children, leaving them vulnerable.
“I think mga nanay subong busy sa ila trabaho, sa financial support sa family. But they should have a time for the family. Dapat magbalik kita sa basic on how to take good care of our young girls and boys, para sa ila future,” she said.
Nurse Jeanne Michelle Jomento, a mother herself, echoed these concerns, stressing that sexual curiosity begins at a young age and children as early as 10 to 12 can already be vulnerable to abuse.
“That’s why it’s important to discuss these topics at home. As a parent, I don’t want my child to seek knowledge only from peers. Damo na da bagay-bagay nga i-consider if didto pa siya matuon,” she said.
According to CPD-6, Negros Occidental recorded the highest number of adolescent births in Western Visayas at 2,699, followed by Iloilo (2,228), Capiz (930), Aklan (671), Antique (461), and Guimaras (230). Iloilo City and Bacolod City posted 355 and 200 cases, respectively./PN
