SAN JOSE, Antique – So far this year, the province of Antique recorded 1,108 teenage pregnancy cases, down from 1,373 cases last year.
However, the current figures still needed validation, said Frances Corvera De los Reyes, point/focal person, Adolescent Health and Development Program of the Provincial Health Office (PHO).
“Kay may dyan nga nag doroble data kang kada banwa, kag amo gid ra ginapangabay ta, magnaba atun cases kang teenage pregnancy sa probinsya,” Delos Santos said.
The PHO is actually puzzled, she revealed.
“May curfew man kadya due to the pandemic. How come nga duro gyapon cases ka teenage pregnancy. Sara sa ginalantaw namon kon may kaso kang abuse sa panimalay. Pero based sa report, wara man kami ti record,” said Delos Santos.
Adolescent period is from ages 10 to 19 years old which, according to Delos Santos, is one of the crucial stages of an individual.
“Sara ra sa budlay ukon crucial stage ang adolescent period kay dyan duro changes, dyan ang puberty stage, psychological changes rugyan ri-an tanan,” she explained.
The PHO has an adolescent sexual and reproductive health education campaign to prevent teenage pregnancy and avoid problems associated with it.
“Sara gid dya sa goal ukon handum kang atun probinsya nga mag-decrease ang teenage pregnancy natun rugya,” Delos Santos said.
She reminded Antiqueño teenagers, “Dapat ang pagbusong, sa insakto nga edad. Dapat ang pagbusong ginagusto, planado kag suportado. Para mag mayad ang inyo’ng buwas damlag as well as ka inyo man nga maging kabataan.” (Arnie Barcebal, Antique PIO/PN)
