Summary
Highlights
Maymay, a 13-year-old living in a Manila slum called 'Happy Land,' became pregnant at 11 by her 22-year-old boyfriend. She didn't realize she was pregnant until seven months along and tragically suffered a miscarriage. Her story highlights the lack of awareness and the emotional toll on young girls who become pregnant.
The Philippines, dubbed the 'baby factory,' faces a rising tide of teen pregnancies. The legal age of consent is merely 12, one of the lowest globally. This creates a significant problem where many young girls become mothers, leading to health issues for both the teenagers and their babies, and causing substantial economic strain due to lost productivity and educational opportunities.
In Palawan, considered a hotspot for teenage pregnancies, 15-year-old Terrell became a mother at 14. She had little knowledge of sex education or contraception because her mother felt awkward discussing it and was unsure about the legality of contraception for minors. Her partner, significantly older, leveraged the low age of consent, and Terrell's parents did not press charges, seeing her new living situation as one less mouth to feed.
Angela, 23, has four children by two fathers. Her first sexual experience was at 14. Despite attempts to use contraception after her first child, misinformation about side effects led her to stop. She wishes for more education on contraception to prevent others from experiencing the same struggles and poverty.
Palawan's vice governor, Dennis Socrates, a staunch Catholic and member of Opus Dei, opposes contraception, advocating for abstinence within marriage and an 'open to life' stance. This conservative viewpoint, widely shared in the predominantly Catholic country, hinders funding and implementation of sex education and contraception programs. Despite a reproductive health law passed five years ago, fierce lobbying from the Catholic Church has prevented its full implementation.
Abortion is illegal in the Philippines under all circumstances, even rape. This leads many desperate women to a 'shadowy underworld' for help. An undercover investigation revealed the ease of purchasing illegal abortion remedies, like ulcer medication used to induce abortions, from street vendors. An abortionist, fearing prosecution, describes performing over a thousand abortions, mostly on teenagers, using a combination of drugs and massage, often leading to serious complications and even death for the women involved.
Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila has a ward dedicated to post-abortion patients, many critically ill from complications. The hospital sees over 2,000 teenage births annually, highlighting the crisis. Teen pregnancies often lead to complications like preterm labor, C-sections, hypertension, and hemorrhage. Babies born to teenage mothers also face higher risks of respiratory problems, as seen with 15-year-old Aliya's baby.
Without comprehensive sex education in schools, the Catholic Church significantly influences what teenagers learn about sex. Groups like 'Live Pure,' associated with the powerful Couples for Christ Foundation, promote abstinence as the only path, presenting sex and fertility in religious terms and discouraging contraception. While some students express curiosity and question the practicality of abstinence, others, like Catholics, adhere to the church's teachings against birth control.
In Palawan, the NGO Roots of Health provides essential services, including sex education and contraception, to teenagers. They advocate for better access to contraceptives, recognizing that many young people and their partners are hesitant due to misconceptions. Thanks to Roots of Health, Terrell has received a contraceptive implant and plans to pursue vocational education to better care for her child. Angela has also opted for an IUD, determined not to have more children. However, Maymay's contraception injections have lapsed, leaving her vulnerable to another unplanned pregnancy.