LABO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL

Dalas Labo, Camarines Norte

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Introduction

The problem and issue regarding early pregnancy in a developing countries

such as Philippines is very critical. Each year, the total number of this phenomenon

is increasing. According to the final result of 2013 National Demographic and

Health Survey (NDHS), one out of ten young Filipino women ages 15-19 is already

a mother or pregnant with their first child. The impact of unintended pregnancy of

a teenager affects their physical, emotional and social interaction as an

adolescents. The pregnancy of a teen have a health risk to her own and to the

baby that she bear.

Usually in early pregnancy, girls abandon their education to give birth and

raise their child. It also forces girls to take an adult role even though they are not

yet ready, as stated by Atty. Alberto Muyot, Chief Executive Officer of Save the

Children Philippines (SCP). In some cases, girls are oblige to get married at a young

age for their children to have a complete family. On the other hand, it is now

common to use contraceptives and other method of contraception to prevent early

and unplanned pregnancy.

Contraception are ways adults can do to prevent being pregnant and this is

also applicable to teenagers, but there are consequences to their age and health.
 LABO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL
Dalas Labo, Camarines Norte

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Adolescents face barriers in accessing contraception including restrictive laws and

policies regarding the provision of contraceptive based on age or marital status,

health worker bias and/or lack of willingness to acknowledge adolescents’ sexual

health needs, and adolescents’ own inability to access contraceptives because of

knowledge, transportation, and financial constraints. Adolescents also face barriers

like restrictions from parents.

Early pregnancy among young women is sometimes unintended. In some

situations, adolescent girls may be unable to refuse unwanted sex or resist forced

sex, which may be unprotected. Sexual violence is prevalent and particularly

affects adolescent girls such as teenagers. According to a statistics globally, about

20% of girls around the world experience sexual abuse as children and

adolescents. It is possibly the inequitable gender norms and social norms that

allow violence against women that put girls at higher risk of unintended pregnancy.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), most of girls aged 15 to 19

undergo unsafe abortions and it can lead to risks such as eclampsia, puerperal

endometritis, and systemic infections than women aged 20 to 24. Globally,

pregnancy and giving birth is one of the reason of early death especially to those

15 to 19 years old. In connection to this statistics, the Republic Act 10354 or the

Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 was enacted which

will truly help young girls to avoid early pregnancy. This law guarantees universal

access to methods of contraception, fertility control, maternal care and sexual

 LABO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL
Dalas Labo, Camarines Norte

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

education.

The rising rate of early pregnancy is not just because of one reason, but a

combination of many factors such as lack of knowledge about sex education. In

addition to the desire to suppress the rising cases of early pregnancy, in addition,

Atty. Alberta Muyot stated that SCP calls for the passage of the Teenage

Pregnancy Prevention Bill that will make full implementation of the Comprehensive

Sexuality Education (CSE) in schools. This bill also ensures that pregnant teenagers

have access to reproductive health services and social protection programs that

will prevent discrimination.

A qualitative inquiry is being used specifically to know the cause of early

pregnancy in some young adults in Senior High School. The outcomes of the study

will possibly contribute to help lessen the cases of early pregnancy among Senior

High School students on both public and private schools in Labo, Camarines Norte.

The researchers conclude that the gathering of day will be at the

Municipality of Labo, Camarines Norte, since, it is the biggest municipality in the

town; composed of 52 barangays which mostly have their respected Senior High

School Department.

The objective of this research is to raise awareness among youth about the

consequence of bearing a baby while studying. Moreover, it will help lessen the

cases of teenage pregnancy among Senior High School students. This was to be

achieved by conducting an interview to those who experienced early pregnancy.

 LABO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL
Dalas Labo, Camarines Norte

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Statement of the Problem

The main problem of this study is to determine the factors behind early

pregnancy among Senior High School students in Labo, Camarines Norte.

Specifically, the researchers will seek to answer the following research questions:

1. Why does early pregnancy cases are rampant on Senior High School

students?

2. What are the consequences of bearing a baby while studying?

3. Is the increasing number of pregnant Senior High School student has

something to do with the insufficient sex education received by Senior High School

students?

4. Does the parents/guardians are to be blamed for these events? Why or

why not?

Significance of the Study

The findings of this study will redound to the benefit of not just students,

but also the community considering that youth are the hope of our nation. The

researchers confide that the following will gain from this study:

Senior High School students – The findings of this study can help the youth to

be aware and to make a way on how to avoid early pregnancy. It will also teach

them to make right decisions and be future-oriented.

 LABO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL
Dalas Labo, Camarines Norte

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Parents – The result of this study will make them aware about the factors that

leads to early pregnancy. Thus, parents will be able to guide their child well.

Teachers – The outcomes of this study will give them some guidelines to monitor

their students on school especially if they are in a relationship. The identified

research work will serves as an insight on what measure or help they can extend

that could help the need of students and fellowmen, thus they can give advices

moral support, and assist them in their endeavor.

Department of Health (DOH) – They may benefit from this study in terms of

promoting public awareness about early pregnancy. They are also able to take

appropriate steps on how to teach and inform parents and students on what to do

in order to avoid early pregnancy.

Future Researchers – The study conducted may give an additional knowledge

for the future researchers.They may continue developing different study to lessen

the number of early pregnancy that will surely promote awareness to the society.

Researchers, Themselves – The study may also bring great sense to the

researchers themselves in terms of distributing information to the people. Thus,

the discoveries of the study will help the researchers to be more knowledgeable

about dealing with pressure and expectations.

Scope and Delimitations

The scope of this research study is to determine the factors behind the
 LABO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL
Dalas Labo, Camarines Norte

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

increasing number of early pregnancy among Senior High School students.

Permission of participants is needed before conducting the interview and it is

regarded as confidential. The researchers will conduct this study in all public and

private Senior High school department in Labo, Camarines Norte. It started on the

first week of December, 2019 to February, 2020.

Definition of Terms

The following terms were the important words used throughout the study.

In this part, these terms were difined conceptually and operationally.

Abortion – is a medical procedure used to end unintended pregnancy and cause

s the death of the fetus. In this study, the term is used as one of the method or

way to terminate the life of a new living person

Adolescents – is a young person who is developing into an adult. In this study,

this was used in other term for ‘teenagers’.

Contraceptions – are the ways done to prevent a woman from becoming pregn

ant. In this study, it was used to state the other ways a woman can do and can h

elp each other teenagers to prevent pregnancy in an early age.

Early Pregnancy – is the condition of a teenage woman that is still not in the le

gal age, that is on the way of having an baby or babies. In this study, early pregn

ancy is considered as one of the aspects that affects one’s life.

Sex Education - is the instruction of issue relating to human sexuality. In the st

 LABO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL
Dalas Labo, Camarines Norte

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

udy it refers to the way to prevent early pregnancies in senior high school.

Unintended Pregnancy - are pregnancies that are mistimed, unplanned or un

wanted at the time of conception. In this study, it is used as one of the aftermath

when a young woman suffer from sexual abuse.

Endnotes: