Medical Officer on Teenage Pregnancy:

THEY ARE KIDS WITH KIDS

By: Jannaly Garay & Jezra Michellah Suan

Citing the increasing number of teenage pregnancy in the city, Baguio City National High
School (BCNHS) hosted the conference Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH): A Focus on
Teenage Pregnancy, July 29.

During the event, School’s Medical Officer IV Maria Clotilde Corazon Zosa, addressed the
health personnel on probable causes and risks of teenage pregnancy.

“Causes of teenage pregnancy may include the lack of knowledge about sexual and
reproductive health and rights, family and social pressure, sexual violence, and early forced
marriage,” Zosa said.

“The teen mother may experience risks like not being able to complete high school,
dependence on welfare, single parenthood, more likely to have children sooner on a limited
income and may also abuse or neglect the child,” she continued.

Establishment of interventions and tracking systems to monitor the health of teenage

pregnants were also discussed during the conference.

“This seminar is to teach and inform health personnel to follow the correct process of
reporting cases [of teenage pregancy],” Zosa stated.

Moreover, the conference resulted to the creation of a systematic referral flow of teenage
pregnancy cases.

“The teenage pregnant is expected to report to his/her teacher first. The teacher then tells the
case to either a guidance counselor or school head, followed by a health personnel and finally a
RHU/MHSO or a private OB,” the medical officer said.

Meanwhile, Zosa gave talks on the recorded teenage pregnants across the city and possible
interventions.
 “A total of nine teenage pregnants from schools all over the city were recorded from June
2018 to March 2019,” Zosa reported.

“In Baguio City, particularly in City High, there are interventions and programs [on teenage
pregancy cases]. These programs include the Open High School Program (OHSP) and the
Effective and Alternative Secondary Education (EASE),” she continued.

“In BCNHS alone, eleven teenage pregnants were recorded on June this year. And they all
belong to the Alternative Delivery Mode Open High School Program,” Zosa said.

Finally, Zosa gave a few words of motivation to the health personnel who attended the
conference.

“After this, expected sana na magawa natin ang proper procedure sa reporting ng cases ng
teenage pregnancy. They need to be guided, after all, they are kids with kids.” Zosa ended.

The conference is part of the Adolescent Reproductive Health Program which is one of the
flagship programs of Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd (OKD)