Kirk Aaron M.

Mortel
11-St. Sebastian

Early pregnancy is one the most alarming issues around the world, today. Each
individual has the right to choose, to live, to express their feelings, beliefs, ideas,
opinions and to even decide for their future. But as we can see, this freedom given to this
young people by the society is not being used properly. Many teenagers engage
themselves in sexual intercourse with their partners, boyfriends/girlfriends, just to be “in”
with their friends. Teenage pregnancy occurs due to many reasons. Some of this are:
peer pressure, lack of attention of the parent, their poor quality of living and underage
drinking. Most of the teenager’s option to have a sexual intercourse is because they
need to achieve the acceptance given by the people around them or given by the “circle
of friends”. Teenage pregnancy is not a new issue; in fact, it has been a rising concern
here in the Philippines for the past few years. Teenagers lead to the need for desire of
love by another person, or she just looking for an acceptance. 

 The numbers of teenage pregnancy are very high but when you think about the
numbers most could have been prevented with the use of protection. Some people may
not afford condoms but if you cannot afford a condom you cannot afford a baby.
Children from homes ran by teenage mothers go through a hard time in life. Teenage
mothers have no time for other things, because they are busy taking care of their baby.
Most teen mothers end up dropping out of high school, because they do not have time
for school anymore. They work for low wages to make money and support the child.
Some teenagers try to stay in school to have a good image, so that other people in
school do not look at them as a pregnant teenager but as just one of them. Most teens
that have had sex wish they had waited longer and most teens and adults believe that it
is important for teens to be given a strong message from society that they should not
have sex until they are at least out of high school. Other teens do what they have to do
and give their full support to the child; they stay in school until close the time of their
baby's delivery date. When teenagers plan to have intercourse, they should think about
whether or not they could handle a child in their life.

"Each year, women around the world experience 75 million unwanted

pregnancies. Unwanted pregnancy can happen for two main reasons: either the couple
was not using contraception, or the method they were using failed. There are many
reasons why people do not use contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancy, including
lack of access to family planning information and services; incest or rape; personal or
religious beliefs; inadequate knowledge about the risks of pregnancy following
unprotected sexual relations; and women's limited decision-making ability with regard to
sexual relations and contraceptive use."