Teenage pregnancy is rampant in Western Visayas, Dr. Ma. Baila Bernabe, family planning program coordinator of Department of Health-Center for Health Development VI, said yesterday.

Bernabe, who is in Bacolod City for the DOH-CHO campaign, said that the fertility rate for Region VI is at 3.3 percent while the overall fertility rate of the country is at 3.2 percent.

She said that this stage is alarming because the fertility rate shows that many of the youth are exposed to sexual practices and some have given birth already.

However, Bernabe admitted that many youths 15 to 19 come to their offices asking for medical services and advice.

She said many health workers are hesitant to suggest methods to these youths because they might engage in premarital sex. On the other hand, they also have to think of the consequences if they refuse to advise them.

Bernabe also said that, based on the 2011 Family Planning survey, maternal deaths increased from 162 to 221 for every 100,000 mothers.*LTG

back to top