See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/281017308

Home Leaving and Risk Taking Behaviors of Youth: The Case of Zamboanga
Peninsula

Article  in  JPAIR Multidisciplinary Research · November 2007

DOI: 10.7719/jpair.v1i1.40

CITATION READS
1 488

3 authors, including:

Rosalyn Echem
Western Mindanao State University
1 PUBLICATION   1 CITATION   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Home Leaving and Risk Taking Behaviors of Youth: The Case of Zamboanga Peninsula View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Rosalyn Echem on 03 August 2018.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Home Leaving and Risk Taking
Behaviors of Youth: The Case of
Zamboanga Peninsula
Rosalyn R. Echem
Marie Grace R. Mateo
Jasmin Sorita-Sibal

Zamboanga
del Norte
INTRODUCTION

Zamboanga The youth are at a stage where they are neither considered as children nor
del Sur
legally identified as adults (Nightingale and Wolverton, 1993). They pass
through a stage of experimentation, where they are likely to engage in behaviors
Zamboanga
Sibugay that are characterized as risky. Today, the young are living in an environment
very different from what the youth of the previous generations had. Compared
to latter, the young today have much more options for spending their leisure
Zamboanga
del Sur
time (Makati Business Club, 2002), brought about by the establishment of
malls, bars, coffee shops, and internet cafes, as well as the availability of mobile
phones, computers and other electronic gadgets.

Despite these technological and social improvements, there are behaviors

among the youth that remain the same. In the 2002 Young Adult Fertility
and Sexuality (YAFS 3) survey, it was found that smoking, drinking, drug use
and engaging in premarital sex (PMS) are still some of the risk taking behaviors
that the youth are experimenting with. The study showed that among young
Filipinos aged 15-24:

· 20.9 % were smoking,

· 41.4 % were drinking,
· 2.4 % were using drugs, and
· 23. 2 % engaged in PMS.

This same study found that there is a higher prevalence of smoking,

drinking and drug use among males than females; however, the gender gap is
closely narrowing when the results where compared to the 1994 YAFS survey.
In the Philippines, where the youth population aged 15-24 years is estimated
to be at 16.9 million as of 2005, (NSO, 2000) these figures are disturbing
especially when translated into absolute terms.

The Filipino youth’s risk taking behaviors have been the focus of many
studies, which endeavored to find out factors affecting these behaviors and the
consequences of such behavior (Raymundo and Cruz, 2004; Cruz, Laguna
and Raymundo, 2002; Frias, 2000; Umali, 1999). Some of these studies

HOME LEAVING AND RISK TAKING BEHAVIORS OF YOUTH: THE CASE OF ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA | 1
found that home leaving experience is one of the
factors affecting the risk taking behavior of the
Filipino youth (Marquez and Galban, 2004; Laguna,
2001; Umali, 1999; Raymundo and Lusterio,
1995). In the recent YAFS survey, 44.7 percent of
the youth said they have experienced living away
from home, where more females lived away from
home (49.2 %) than males (39.8 %). Top reasons
for living away from home are school and work related
(Berja, 2005).
Living away from home is a major life event that
shapes the transition to adulthood (Berja, 2005).
This is the time when a youth experiences
independence and comes in contact with a new
environment. In the study of Young (1987 in
Gabriel, 2000), it was noted that young adults see
home leaving as a beginning of their independence
and non-family living. They are exposed to a lifestyle
quite different from what they were used to while
living with parents or from what they may
experience if they marry and start having their own
family. Berja (2005) pointed out that early home
leaving can be beneficial but also detrimental if the
move happens very early in life.
As the youth starts to move away from home
due to economic or educational reasons, they become
more exposed to a number of risk-taking behaviors
like smoking, drinking, substance use and abuse,
premarital sex and other sexual risk behaviors.
Studies show that living away from home becomes a
factor influencing the likelihood of Filipino youth
to engage in premarital sex (Umali, 1999;
Raymundo and Lusterio, 1995). As such, early risk
taking behavior of the youth can have life long
consequences if it leads to early marriage or
pregnancy or other health complications like
acquiring sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) or
addiction to alcohol, cigarettes or prohibited drugs.
Previous studies at the national level have pointed
out the important role that home leaving plays in
the Filipino youth’s propensity for engaging in risk
behavior. Laguna (2001) noted that this hastens early
sexual initiation for both young male and females.
Marquez and Galban (2004), meanwhile, found that
the likelihood to engage in risky sex is less likely
2 | ECHEM, MATEO & SIBAL
with those youth who have no experience of home
leaving than those who have.
The increase autonomy that comes with home
leaving gives the young adults more freedom to
explore multiple-risk behaviors than when they live
with parents (Galambos and Tilton-Weaver, 1998;
Umali, 1999; Raymundo and Lusterio, 1995).
It is equally essential to look at the local level to
see if the influence of home leaving on involvement
in risky behaviors holds true. This study aims to do
that using Region IX as its specific context because
of the high prevalence of home leaving in this region
(at top eight among all the regions in the Philippines
), as found by the 2002 YAFS survey.
REGIONALSITUATIONER
The provinces of Basilan, Zamboanga del Norte,
Zamboanga del Sur and the city of Zamboanga
originally comprised Region IX, also referred to as
Western Mindanao. However, when Executive Order
No. 36 was enacted last 2001, Basilan, with the
exception of Isabela City, became part of the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
(ARMM). Consequently, Region IX was renamed
as Zamboanga Peninsula (ZAMPEN).
The region has five cities: Dipolog, Dapitan,
Isabela, Pagadian, and the lone chartered city of
Zamboanga. Zamboanga City is the center of
commerce, trade, health services, and education for
all of the Western Mindanao Region. It hosts the
Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority,
popularly known as Zamboecozone. It is also
envisioned that this city will play a greater role in
the development of Western Mindanao in the 21st
century because it will serve as a gateway and trading
hub in the south. At present, this city serves as area
of origin as well as transit points for travelers bound
for Sabah (UNDP, 2000). The city’s economic
development has provided various employment
opportunities for the people in the region. This
attracted more people, particularly the young, from
the neighboring provinces to the city in pursuit of
higher education and employment. However,
compared with other regional centers in Mindanao,
Zamboanga City lags behind because of conflict in
neighboring areas. The negative publicity brought
about by news on clashes, kidnappings and
bombings hinders investment and tourism in the
region (UNDP, 2000).
The people of Zamboanga Peninsula are mainly
a mix of three distinct groups: the Christians, the
Moros, and the Subanons. The Moros are further
classified into three major subgroups - the Tausugs,
who mainly reside in Sulu; the Sama of Tawi-Tawi;
and the Yakans of Basilan. As of May 2000, the
region’s population was pegged at over 4.7 million
people, with the biggest number - nearly a third
(30.54 percent) - residing in Zamboanga del Sur.
Zamboanga del Norte’s population registered
823,130 and that of Zamboanga City was 601,794.
Over the last ten years, the region’s population
continued to increase at an average growth rate
of 2.3 percent. Zamboanga City, the region’s most
highly urbanized city, had a growth rate of 3.56
percent.
About 57 percent of the population of ZAMPEN
belongs to the economically productive ages of 15-
64 years old. Young and old dependents account
for 40 percent and 3 percent of the population,
respectively. The region is basically composed of
young people with a median age of 20 years. Women
marry and start childbearing at age 22 years, on the
average, which is one year younger than the national
average. The ever-married women in reproductive
ages (15-49 years) in the region have at least 3
children ever born during their reproductive period
(NDHS, 2003). Furthermore, among the household
population, 85 percent are able to read and write.
Literacy rate for females (85.2%) is almost the same
for males (85.3%). With regard to religion, more
than half (65.2%) of the households are Catholics
while 18.3 % are Muslims (NSO, 2000).
THE YOUTH OF ZAMPEN: ISSUES
ANDCONCERNS
Based on the 2000 Census, nearly one fifth of
the population in Region IX is comprised of those
in the 15-24 age group or commonly known as
youth or adolescents (NSO, 2000). In the Survey
on Children 5-17 years old conducted by the
National Statistics Office in 1995, it was found
HOME LEAVING AND RISK TAKING BEHAVIORS OF YOUTH: THE CASE OF ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA
that there were 921,000 Filipino children aged 5 to
17 years in Western Mindanao. Two thirds of them
lived in rural areas. One out of five children has
worked in the past year. Among working children,
four out of five came from rural areas. Those working
were mostly employed in farming. Aside from
farming, the working male respondents were also
employed in the fishing industry; on the other hand,
the females were into personal services. The said
research also found that 46.2 per cent of those who
were working belonged to the age group 15-17.
Findings of the study also revealed that 31,000 youth
have experienced living away from home, presumably
away from their parents, to work, study, look for
work, or engage in a combination of these activities.
Of those who have lived away from home, 75.8 per
cent were aged 15 to 17 years (ILO 2001). Eighteen
per cent of working children who were living away
from home were in Metro Manila and the rest were
in other places. Most of them were working for
private households. It is presumed that poverty has
pushed these children out of their homes to look for
opportunities elsewhere. The desire to improve their
family’s living conditions drove most of these
children to continue working (ILO, 2001).
Recent studies revealed that problem behaviors
such as smoking, drinking alcohol, using drugs, and
engaging in premarital sex are also found among the
ZAMPEN youth. The Young Adult Fertility and
Sexuality Study regional data on ZAMPEN showed
prevalence on smoking, drinking, drug use and
premarital sex among the youth in the the region
(YAFS 3 Regional Datasheet). This finding is further
supported by the results of the study conducted by
Health Action Information Network (HAIN) and
UNICEF in 2006, particularly in the Zamboanga
region. Premarital sex prevalence for the region is at
20 percent (YAFS 3 Regional Datasheet).
Results of the 2005 Family Planning Survey also
showed that Western Mindanao has one of the
highest pregnancy rates among minors and that the
percentage of women in the region aged 15-19 years
who got pregnant slightly went up from 6.2 percent
to 6.8 percent (as cited in Mindanews 2006).
In light of these findings, this study hopes to
contribute to the greater understanding of the
| 3
ZAMPEN’s youth risk behaviors by focusing on the
influence of home leaving on these behaviors. Home
leaving was chosen as the focus because previous
studies have established the interconnection
between home leaving and the risk taking behavior
of the youth, and because home leaving occurs
significantly in Region IX.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
To fully understand the risky behaviors of young
people and factors that are likely to affect these
behaviors in the Zamboanga Peninsula, this study
made use of the data from the 2002 Young Adult
Fertility and Sexuality (YAFS) Survey, which includes
a representative sample of the youth in the region.
This study has several objectives, as follows:
? To determine the extent of and differentials
in home leaving among adolescents in the
Zamboanga Peninsula.
? To deter mine the level, trends and
differentials in involvement in non-sexual risk
behaviors and premarital sex among adolescents’ in
Zamboanga Peninsula.
? To determine the extent to which departure
from home leads to premarital sex and non-sexual
risk behaviors.
? To identify risk factors other than home-
leaving associated with engaging in PMS and non-
sexual risk behaviors among adolescents.
FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYSIS
This study utilizes the Social Bond Theory
(Hirschi, 1969) and Problem Behavior Theory
(Jessor, 1991) as framework in understanding
adolescent’s risk taking behavior.
The Social Bond Theory argues that human
behavior is largely influenced by an individual‘s
relationship with social institutions such as his
family, school, peers and the church, all of which
impart values, beliefs and morals that encourage
conformity and compliance with society’s rules.
Individuals with strong and stable attachments
4 | ECHEM, MATEO & SIBAL
to others within society are presumed to be less
likely to violate social norms, whereas those with
weak attachments are more inclined to deviate
from social expectations. This theory also posits
that time spent on socially approved activities like
studies or employment reduces the time available
for engaging in deviant activities. Home-leaving,
the central interest of this paper, is considered as
an event that tends to weaken an adolescent’s
attachment to his parents thereby making him/
her inclined to do activities that are not within
society’s expectations, such as smoking, drinking,
using drugs, and engaging in premarital sex.
On the other hand, the Problem Behavior
Theory is used in this study to explore the
different factors that could explain problem
behaviors. The theory uses two main constructs
that explain involvement in problem behavior,
protective factors and risk factors. Protective
factors decrease the likelihood of engaging in
problem behavior thereby providing model,
control and support for positive behavior. Risk
factors, in contrast, increase the likelihood of
engaging in problem behavior thereby giving
greater opportunity to engage in it and
heightening the vulnerability for its occurrence.
Examples of protective factor are parental support,
religiosity and high self esteem. Risk factors
include having friends who smoke, drink and
engage in premarital sex, greater access to illegal
substances, and low self esteem. In this paper,
home-leaving is treated as a risk factor because
the parents will have less control over their
children once they start living on their own. The
place of destination can also be a risk factor
especially if the adolescent is moving to an urban
area where there are more opportunities to
interact with peers and greater access to illegal
substances such as cigarettes, alcoholic drinks, and
prohibited drugs.
Guided by the above theoretical perspectives,
a conceptual framework is derived illustrating the
individual, social and behavioral factors perceived
to have influences on the risk taking behavior of
adolescents. The relationships between the
variables are presented in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Conceptual Framework of the Study
Individual Characteristics
Age
Sex
Marital Status
Education
Schooling Status
Urban Exposure
Frequency of attending religious
activities
Employment
Home leaving
DATAANDMETHODOLOGY
The data for this study were taken from the
Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study conducted
by the Demographic Research and Development
Foundation and UP Population Institute in April to
June 2002. Respondents consisted of about 20,000
Filipino males and females aged 15-27 years. The
analysis, however, will only utilize data from
Zamboanga Peninsula composed of 880 respondents
aged 15-24 years.
Variables and Measures
The study focuses on risk behaviors of adolescents
such as smoking, drinking, drug use and engaging
in premarital sex. Data for premarital sex involvement
were derived from three questions, namely, whether
the respondent went ‘all the way’ during first date,
whether the respondent went ‘all the way’ on other
dates, and a direct question that asked whether the
respondent ever engaged in sex before marriage.
Engaging in non-sexual risk behaviors was measured
by asking the respondents if they have ever tried the
following substances: cigarettes, alcoholic beverages
and illegal drugs
Individual characteristics that were considered
in this study include sex, age, marital status,
HOME LEAVING AND RISK TAKING BEHAVIORS OF YOUTH: THE CASE OF ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA
Non-Sexual Risk Behaviors
Smoking
Drinking
Drug Use
Sexual Risk Behavior
Premarital Sex
schooling status, highest educational attainment,
religious activities, urban exposure, and employment
status. The experience of having ever lived away from
home for three months or more was also included,
as it is considered an important determinant of ever
engaging in non-sexual and sexual risk behaviors.
Frequency of interaction and contact with parents
while living away from home were also considered.
Method of Analysis
Descriptive analysis was used to present the
socio-economic characteristics and risk taking
behaviors of adolescents in ZAMPEN. Chi-square
test was used to determine the relationship between
certain indicators and risk behaviors.
Binary logistic regression analysis was used to
identify the background characteristics that predicted
risk taking among youths in Zamboanga Peninsula.
Three separate logistic regression models were done
for predicting the likelihood for drinking, drug use
and engaging in premarital sex. Two separate logistic
regression models were done for predicting the
likelihood for smoking. Separate models were run
for the male and female sub-samples, given the
differences in their propensity to engage in risk
talking behaviors.
| 5
FINDINGS Table 1. Adolescents Ages 15-24 by Selected Background
Characteristics: Western Mindanao, YAFS 2002
Profile of the Youths in ZAMPEN SELECTED BACKGROUND BOTH
MALE FEMALE
CHARACTERISTICS SEXES
The 2002 YAFS survey interviewed 885
Current Age
adolescents aged 15-24 years in Zamboanga
15-19 60.8 64.4 62.6
Peninsula. The distribution by sex is almost equal.
20-24 39.2 35.6 37.4
Majority of these adolescents are single (84%). A Mean Age 18.7 18.5 18.6
higher proportion of female adolescents are married Marital Status
(16%) compared to the males (5%). In terms of Single 91.6 76.5 84.0
educational attainment, thirty three percent have at Currently Married 5.0 16.3 10.6
least high school education while about quarter Currently Living In 3.4 7.0 5.2
(24%) have attained college or higher education. Wid/Sep/Div (0.0) (0.2) (0.1)
There are slightly more female adolescents who are Education
in college or higher than their male counterparts No educ/elem 20.7 16.3 18.5
(26 % vs. 22%). Religious affiliation of the youth is HS. Undergrad 34.1 33.5 33.8
concentrated on Catholicism (71%) and about 11 HS grad/Voc 23.2 24.5 23.9
percent are Moslems. Religiosity among the Coll.+ 22.0 25.7 23.9
respondents is high, with 53 per cent attending Place of Residence
religious activities at least once a week. Females are Urban 14.5 15.3 14.9
more religious than males. A greater proportion of Rural 85.5 84.7 85.1
the Zamboanga Peninsula youth still live in rural Religion
areas (85%). However, urban exposure is quite high, Catholic 73.5 66.7 70.0
with 72 percent having experienced living in a city Non-Catholic 17.6 19.9 18.8
or poblacion. Almost half of the youth (49%) Islam 9.0 13.3 11.2
surveyed have never worked while one in four Frequency of Attending
adolescents was currently employed at the time of Religious Activities
the survey. More males (35%) are currently working Frequently (everyday/once
45.3 59.2 52.3
than the females (15%). or more than once a week)
Seldom 40.5 18.6 29.5
Home Leaving Never 14.1 22.2 18.2
Urban Exposure
Nearly half (48%) of the adolescents in Western Without exposure 28.5 29.3 28.9
Mindanao have experienced living away from home With exposure 71.7 71.4 71.5
(Figure 2) for three or more months. More females Schooling Status
(54%) ever experienced living away from home In School 53.3 56.1 54.7
compared to their male counterparts (43%). This Not in School 46.7 43.9 45.3
finding is consistent with the predominant Employment Status
urbanward migration pattern in the country which Currently Working 35.5 14.6 25.1
is selective of young females, who are preferred over No Longer Working 20.1 30.0 25.1
men for employment in the service sector. Never Worked 44.3 55.4 49.9
N of Cases 441.0 444.0 885.0
Among the ZAMPEN youth, the major reasons
for leaving home are: job-related (35%), to study financial responsibility of the family. Moreover, those
(44%) and to join kin in place (17%). There are who left home for economic reasons even at an early
slightly more males (40%) than females (33%) who age probably did so to augment their family’s
leave parental homes for work (Table 2), which is an income. NSCB data for 2005 estimated that the
indicative of the prescribed role for men to take the poverty incidence in the region rose from 38.5 in

6 | ECHEM, MATEO & SIBAL

2000 to 44.1 in 2003. The increasing poverty Table 3 shows that among ZAMPEN
among ZAMPEN families could be one of the adolescents, home-leaving is more likely among the
reasons driving the youth to work instead of study. older respondents. Females leave their homes slightly
earlier compared to their male counterparts.
Consistent with national findings, more females leave
Figure 2. Youth who ever lived away from home, by sex
and age: Zamboanga Peninsula, YAFS 2002
home than males. Males home-leavers are more likely
to be not in school, have attained a higher education,
80 have experienced living in the city and working.
67.7 Female home-leavers are more likely to be married
55.2 61.2
60 53.6 48.3
43.0 45.8 40.5 or in a live-in status, not in school, college graduate,
40 35.1
living in a city or had experienced living in the city
20 and currently working.
0
Male Female Both Sexes
Table 3. Youth who have Ever Lived Away From Home, by
15-19 20-24 15-24 Sex and Selected Background Characteristics: Western
Mindanao, YAFS 2002
BACKGROUND BOTH
MALE FEMALE
CHARACTERISTICS SEXES
Twenty four percent of the respondents have ever Age
lived in a dormitory or boarding house. Among those 15-19 35.1 45.8 40.5
who have ever lived in a dormitory or boarding house, 20-24 55.2 67.7 61.2
majority visited their home or was visited by their Mean Age Left Home 15.6 15 15.2
parents at least once a week. More females (81%) Marital Status
than males (71%) visited their home or were visited Single 41.9 48.4 45
by their parents. Currently Married 50.0 64.4 61.1
Currently Living-in (60.0) 81.3 74.5
Div/Sep/Wid 0.0 (100.0) (100.0)
Table 2. Experience of home leaving, by sex: Western
Schooling Status
Mindanao, YAFS 2002
In School 38.3 47.0 42.9
REASONS FOR LEAVING BOTH Not in School 48.5 61.7 54.9
MALE FEMALE
HOME SEXES Educational Attainment
Job related 39.7 32.6 35.8 NS/Elem 34.1 53.5 42.6
To study 43.9 44.1 44 HS Undergrad 36.2 41.8 39.0
To marry/change residence 0.0 2.1 1.2 HS Grad/Voc 46.1 53.3 49.8
Presence of kin in place 15.9 17.8 16.9 College + 57.7 69.6 64.1
Calamities/Peace and Residence
0.5 3.4 2.1
Order/Other Urban 42.9 65.2 54.5
N of Cases 189 236 425 Rural 43.0 51.3 47.1
Ever lived in a dorm or Urban Exposure
boarding house With Exposure 54.7 69.4 62.0
Yes 22.7 25.6 24.1 Without Exposure 13.0 13.6 13.4
No 77.3 74.4 75.9 Employment
N of Cases 441 442 883 Working 45.5 70.8 52.7
Frequency of visits to/from Worked Before 49.4 76.7 66.1
parents* Never Worked 37.9 36.6 37.1
At least once or twice a
71.4 81.3 77.2
week N of Cases 189 238 427
Once a month/Seldom 28.6 18.8 22.8
N of Cases 56 80 136
Note:* For those who ever lived in a dorm only

HOME LEAVING AND RISK TAKING BEHAVIORS OF YOUTH: THE CASE OF ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA | 7
Risk Behaviors: Levels, Trends and
Differentials
A. Smoking
Findings reveal that 40 percent of youth 15-24
years old in Region 9 have ever tried smoking (Table
5). The proportion of males who ever tried smoking
is almost three times higher than that for the females
(63% vs. 17%). Smoking among youths happened
earlier among the males than females(Table 4). In
addition, males have higher probability of smoking
than females. At age 16, nearly half of young males
in ZAMPEN would have experienced smoking
cigarettes. The proportion rises with age such that
by age 24, about 80 per cent of the young males
have experienced smoking. In contrast, young females
have lower probability of smoking: by age 18, only
4 out of 10 females would have ever tried smoking
(Figure 3).
Smoking among the youth in ZAMPEN
declined from 44 percent in 1994 to 40 percent in
2002. The smoking prevalence among the males
declined while it slightly increased among the
females. Data on mean age that the youth started
smoking reveal an earlier onset from 15.9 years in
1994 to 15.5 years in 2000 (Tables 4 & 5).
Further analyses reveal significant differentials
across background characteristics among the
adolescents who have ever engaged in smoking.
Specifically, higher level of smoking is noted among
those who are not in school, with low educational
attainment, seldom attend religious activities, who
are living in urban area or with urban exposure, and
who are currently working (Table 6).
Figure 3. Estimated probability of smoking at exact ages
8 | ECHEM, MATEO & SIBAL
B. Drinking
The Filipino youth are more prone to drinking
than smoking. At the national level, one out of two
adolescents have ever tried alcoholic beverages (Cruz,
et al, 2002). In ZAMPEN, more than half (55%) of
the youth have tried drinking. The level of who ever
tried drinking is quite higher for males than females
(71% vs. 55%). A majority of those who tried
drinking are in the older age group (Table 5).
Furthermore, mean age of alcohol initiation slid
from 16.4 in 1994 to 16.1 in 2002 (Table 4).
Adolescent males have higher probability of drinking
than females. At age 16, about 50 percent of
adolescent males and 20 percent of adolescent females
in ZAMPEN would have experienced drinking. At
age 18, the proportion of males drinking would be
80 per cent and 40 per cent for females (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Estimated probability of drinking at exact ages
Differential analyses across background
characteristics revealed that those who are not in
school, with college education, are Catholic and
seldom attend religious activities have higher levels
of drinking. Furthermore, higher levels of drinking
were also noted among those who live in urban areas
or had urban exposure, currently employed and have
ever lived away from home (Table 6).
C. Drug Use
Although less than 10 percent of the youth in
Region IX have tried using prohibited drugs, this is
still alarming when translated to absolute numbers.
A much smaller percentage (2%) of females admitted
having tried using prohibited drugs compared to
the males (17%). This shows how risky the behavior
of males are compared to females. Males in the older
age group exhibited higher prevalence for trying
illegal substances than those in the younger age
group.
Unlike smoking and drinking, the mean age of
drug use initiation among the youth in ZAMPEN
rose from 17.0 year old in 1994 to 17.2 year old in
2002. Mean age of initiation is almost the same for
both males and females. However, males have higher
probability of using prohibited drugs than females.
At age 18, almost 20 percent of young males in
ZAMPEN would have experienced using drugs
while only 3 percent of their female counterparts
would have tried using drugs (Figure 5).
Figure 5. Estimated probability of using drugs at exact
ages
D. Premarital Sex
About 20 percent of the youth aged 15-24 in
ZAMPEN have ever engaged in premarital sex (Table
5). The proportion for ZAMPEN is slightly lower
than the national figure which is 23 percent.
Significant gender variation in PMS prevalence was
noted; specifically, the proportion of males having
engaged in premarital sex is twice as high as that of
females (26% vs. 13%). This risky behavior of males
does not come as a surprise since this kind of behavior
is typically associated with males. Premarital sex is
more likely among the older respondents (20-24)
for both the males and females.
Mean age of sexual initiation for ZAMPEN
adolescents is at 18 years for both sexes (Table 4).
The probability of engaging in premarital sex is
higher among males than females. At age 18, almost
30 percent of them would have experienced engaging
HOME LEAVING AND RISK TAKING BEHAVIORS OF YOUTH: THE CASE OF ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA
in premarital sex. On the other hand, only 19
percent of females would have experienced PMS at
the same age(Figure 6).
Figure 6. Estimated probability of engaging in premarital
sex at exact ages
The data further show that those who are
currently living in are more likely to admit to have
experienced PMS, followed by those who are
currently married. Education-wise, those who are
not currently in school and have finished college
education are more likely to have engaged in
premarital sex than those attending school and those
with lower educational attainment. Urban dwellers
and those with urban exposure are more likely to
engage in PMS than rural dwellers and those without
urban exposure. The youth who have experienced
ever living away from home are more likely to engage
in PMS than those who have not left their home.
Determinants of Adolescent Risk Taking
Behavior
Result of the logistic regression analysis assessing
the covariates of risk behaviors are presented in Table
7. Separate models were done for males and females.
As discussed earlier, females are less likely than males
to engage in risky behaviors. Further, the results of
the analysis show that different sets of significant
predictors affect the likelihood of males and females
engaging in risky behavior.
The effect of individual’s characteristics on
smoking is different for male and female adolescents.
The odds increase with age for males but not for the
females. Being in school has a protective effect on
males as it decreases the odds of smoking by 70
| 9
percent. College education and urban exposure secondary or primary education. Female adolescents
increase the likelihood of smoking among females who have been exposed to urban life are twice more
only. The odds of smoking for adolescents who have likely to try smoking than their counterparts who
higher education is two times than those with have not had urban exposure.

Table 4. Mean Age Started Smoking, Drinking, Drug Use and PMS, by sex and age: Western Mindanao, YAFS 1994 and
2002
1994 2002
MEAN AGE
MALE FEMALE BOTH SEXES MALE FEMALE BOTH SEXES
15.9 15.9 15.9 15.2 16.3 15.5
Mean Age Started Drinking 16.2 16.9 16.4 15.7 17.2 16.2
Mean Age Started Using Drugs 17.1 16.5 17 17.2 16.7 17.2
Mean Age at first PMS 18.1 18 18.1 17.9 17.5 17.8

Table 5. Risk behaviors, by sex and age :Western Mindanao, YAFS 2002
RISK BEHAVIORS
SEX AND 1994 2002
AGE EVER EVER EVER TRIED EVER EVER EVER TRIED
PMS € PMS €
SMOKED DRANK USING DRUGS SMOKED DRANK USING DRUGS
Male
15-19 61.2 63.9 6 10.2 56.7 63.2 9.4 13.4
20-24 86.3 94.2 17.3 35.3 72.8 82.7 28.9 46.2
15-24 72.7 77.6 11.1 21.6 63 70.8 17 26.3
Female
15-19 11.1 24.1 -1 4 14 34.3 1.7 7
20-24 25.5 45.8 -4.7 17 21 49 2.5 24.2
15-24 16.1 31.5 2.3 8.5 16.7 39.4 2 13.1
Both Sexes
15-19 33.8 42 3.3 6.8 34.8 48.2 5.2 10.1
20-24 60 73.1 11.4 27.6 48 66.7 16.6 35.6
15-24 44.3 54.5 6.7 15.1 39.8 55.1 9.5 19.7
() Less than 10 cases

Table 6. Risk Behaviors by Selected Background Characteristics: Western Mindanao, YAFS 2002
NON SEXUAL SEXUAL
BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS € EVER EVER EVER EVER HAD
SMOKED DRANK TRIED DRUGS PMS
Marital Status ***
Never Married 40.1 56.5 9.6 14.3
Currently Married 39.4 42.6 -8.5 41.1
Currently Living-in 32.6 56.5 -10.6 63
Div/Sep/Wid -100 -100 0 0
Schooling Status *** ** ** ***
In School 32.4 50.6 6.6 12.2
Not in School 48.5 60.6 13 28.9

10 | ECHEM, MATEO & SIBAL

Table 6...continuation
NON SEXUAL SEXUAL
BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS € EVER EVER EVER EVER HAD
SMOKED DRANK TRIED DRUGS PMS
Educational Attainment ** *** *** **
No Educ/Elem 48.1 51.2 -3.7 20.4
High School Undergrad 34.3 45.8 7.1 13.9
HS Grad/Voc 36.8 59.3 12 19.6
College + 43.5 67.5 15.4 26.8
Religion ***
Catholic 39.7 61.7 10.5 20.2
Non-Catholic 40 39.2 6.9 18.8
Frequency of Attending Religious Activities *** *** **
Frequently 32.8 47.1 6.8 20.9
Seldom 50 66.5 13.8 16.2
Never 42.5 59.4 10.6 21.9
Residence * *** *** ***
Urban 47.7 77.3 21.2 32.1
Rural 38.3 51.3 7.4 17.5
Urban Exposure *** *** ***
With Exposure 41.4 60.2 11.8 22.9
Without Exposure 34.7 42.9 4.4 11.3
Employment Status *** *** ** ***
Currently Working 57.7 69.8 14 28.4
Worked before 36.7 59 11.3 24
Never Worked 32.4 45.7 6.3 13.1
Lived Away from home *** * ***
Yes 40.7 63.2 11.7 24.6
No 38.9 47.6 7.5 15.1

Total 39.7 55.1 9.5 19.7

N of Cases 352 488 84 174
Note: () Less than 10 cases ***p<0.001, **p<0.01, *p0.05

In almost the same case as of smoking, drinking
varies for males and females. An increase in age also
increases the odds of engaging among males only.
Marital status acts as preventive factor for both males
and females as it decreases the odds of drinking by
85 percent and 50 percent, respectively. The odds
of drinking increases by 46 per cent among female
adolescents with college education compared to those
with lower education. This could be attributed to
the kind of lifestyle that female college students or
youth working in urban areas have. In urban areas,
there are more opportunities for attending parties
or going out on a “gimmick” with friends. These
kinds of activities present opportunities for trying
substances like alcohol. Being strongly religious
protects men from drinking. Males who attend
religious activities are less likely to drink alcoholic
beverages than those who seldom or do not attend
religious activities. The odds of drinking is greater
among male and female home-leavers. Both male
and female home-leavers are twice more likely to
drink than non home-leavers.
Among the background characteristics, drug use
among adolescents is only significantly related to
age and urban exposure. This finding is evident
among males but not among females. Drug use
among males increases with age and is greater for

HOME LEAVING AND RISK TAKING BEHAVIORS OF YOUTH: THE CASE OF ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA | 11
those who have lived in the urban areas. The odds
of engaging in drug use increases by 12 per cent
among young males who have urban exposure.
The effect of the different background
characteristics on the likelihood of engaging in
premarital sex is different between males and females.
Among the males, the likelihood of engaging in
premarital sex is greater for those who are married,
have college education and with urban
exposure. Specifically, those who are married are 3
times more likely to have engaged in premarital sex
than those who are single. The odds of initiation to
premarital sex among the adolescents are two times
higher for those with college education than those
with lower education. Young males who have lived
in urban areas are 3 times more likely to engage in
premarital sex than those who are living in rural areas.
Among the females, being married and employed
increases the odds for premarital sex initiation. Those
who are married or in live-in status are 15 times
more likely to engage in PMS than those who are
single. Likewise, those who are working are 28
percent more likely to engage in PMS than those
who are not working.
To determine the extent to which risk behaviors
influence each other, logistic regression analyses for
initiating drinking, drug use and premarital sex were
added to the model. Results show that smoking
increases the likelihood of drinking for both sexes.
Male smokers are 6 times more likely to drink than
non-smokers. On the other hand, female smokers
are 5 times more likely to drink than non-smokers.
Smoking and drinking also significantly increase the
odds of using prohibited drugs by five times or more
for both sexes. Findings also reveal that those who
smoke and use drugs are more likely to engage in
premarital sexual behavior than those who are not
engaged in said behaviors.

Table 7. Odds ratios of engaging in risk behaviors among Youth, by sex: Zamboanga Peninsula, YAFS 2002
MALES FEMALES
PREDICTORS DRUG PREMARITAL DRUG PREMARITAL
SMOKING DRINKING SMOKING DRINKING
USE SEX USE SEX
Age 1.117* 1.227*** 1.309** 1.409** 0.98 1.09 1.04 0.97
Currently Married 1.23 0.137* 0.59 3.079** 1.28 0.495* 1.71 15.676***
Currently in
0.295** 1.35 0.8 1.68 0.85 0.8 0.98 0.495*
School
College 1.02 1.07 1.11 0.99 2.090* 1.460* 1.25 1.45
Attends Religious
0.9 0.257*** 0.82 1.89 0.407** 0.84 0.34 0.97
Acts freq
With Urban
0.73 1.04 1.112* 3.097* 2.384* 0.67 2.12 0.89
Exposure
Working 0.81 1.44 0.4 0.6 1.65 1.2 0 2.285*
Lived Away from
1.41 1.79* 2.48 0.59 1.1 2.115** 0.67 0.91
home
Smoking 5.589*** 5.405*** 3.277* 5.334*** 5.212* 0.89
Drinking 9.236** 0.55 5.00E+007 2.53
Drug Use 6.576*** 10.001**
R2 0.16 0.33 0.37 0.44 0.17 0.3 0.46 0.33
Note: Reference categories are unmarried, not in school, no education/elementary and high school, do not attend religious activities, without urban
exposure, did not live away from home, did not smoke, drink and use drugs.

SUMMARYANDRECOMMENDATIONS

The study sheds light into the risk taking affecting these behaviors particularly home leaving.
behaviors of the ZAMPEN youth and the factors In summary, the findings of the study are as follows:

12 | ECHEM, MATEO & SIBAL

On Home Leaving
●
Nearly half of adolescents in Zamboanga
Peninsula (48%) have experienced living away from
home. This puts ZAMPEN among the top eight
among regions in the country in terms of prevalence
of home leaving among adolescents. The figure for
the region is slightly higher than the national
percentage.
●
More females (54%) than males (43%) ever
experienced living away from home. The top two
reasons for living away from home are to study and
to work. The ZAMPEN youth who have left home
to seek better opportunities may have been driven
by the economic conditions in the region where
poverty is high.
●
Among those who lived in boarding houses
or dormitories, more females (81%) than males
(71%) visited their home or were visited by their
parents. This shows that despite the distance, parents
try to keep their parental authority over children.
On Risk Taking Behaviors
The level of smoking, drinking, drug-use
●
and engaging in PMS is higher among the male
youth in the region than their female counterparts.
This is consistent with the general notion of males
being more adventurous than the females. Filipinos
are also generally more lenient towards males than
females with regard to smoking, drinking and sexual
behaviors. Given that the risk-taking behaviors of
male and female youth vary, stakeholders should take
gender difference into consideration in the design
of programs and policies for the youth.
Factors Affecting Risk Taking Behaviors
●
Results revealed that age, schooling status,
participation in religious activities, and urban
exposure are significantly associated with the odds
of smoking among adolescents in Region 9.
Specifically, higher educational attainment and
urban exposure are risk factors for smoking among
female adolescents. The presence and accessibility
of varied forms of recreational facilities in urban areas
increase the likelihood that adolescents will encounter
HOME LEAVING AND RISK TAKING BEHAVIORS OF YOUTH: THE CASE OF ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA
situations that make smoking acceptable and
desirable. On the other hand, religiosity has a
protective effect for smoking especially among the
females. Those who attend religious activities
frequently are less likely to try smoking. Likewise,
being in school protects young male adolescents in
ZAMPEN from smoking.
●
Several individual factors significantly
influence the probability of drinking. Initiation to
drinking alcoholic substance increases with advancing
age. Being married protects adolescents from
drinking. Similarly, religiosity shields female
adolescents from drinking alcoholic beverages. Both
male and female home-leavers are twice more likely
to drink than non home-leavers, perhaps because
leaving home results in the loosening of parental
control.
Increasing age and urban exposure are
●
predisposing factors for drug-use among the male
adolescents in ZAMPEN. Like cigarettes and
alcohol, illegal drugs are usually more accessible in
the urban than rural areas.
Findings revealed that among the individual
●
factors, age, marital status, urban exposure and
employment are risk factors for engaging in PMS.
As male adolescents grow older they are more
predisposed to engage in PMS. As expected, married
adolescents are more likely to report that they have
engaged in PMS compared to their unmarried
counterparts. Males in the urban areas are more
likely to engage in PMS than those in the rural.
Adolescent females who are currently working are
more likely to engage in PMS than their non-working
counterparts. In contrast, being in school protects
adolescents from engaging in PMS.
Interconnections of Risk Taking Behaviors
●
Sexual risk behaviors and non-sexual risk
behaviors are said to be interconnected. Findings
showed that for both male and female adolescents,
smoking increases the likelihood of drinking. Male
smokers are 6 times more likely to drink than non-
smokers. On the other hand, female smokers are 5
times more likely to drink than non-smokers.
| 13
 ●
Smoking and drinking also significantly
increase the odds by five times or more of engaging
in drug use for both sexes.
●
Findings also revealed that those who smoke
and use drugs are more likely to engage in premarital
sex than those who have never tried these substances.
This is consistent with the findings of past studies
showing that sexual activity is strongly associated
with drinking alcohol and substance use (Jones &
Mott, 1998).Substance use can obstruct a youth’s
decision-making ability, thereby making sexual
activity more likely (Forste and Haas, 2002).
Knowing the factors that enhance or impede
risk-taking behavior involvement among male and
female youth, this study suggests the following that
could help address risk-taking behavior engagement
among male and female youth:
1 . On home-leaving: Provide educational
facilities in the rural areas so that students would
not have to leave their parental homes in pursuit of
higher education in the cities where the level and
degree of urbanization may expose them to activities
that promote risk taking behavior.
2 . On female home-leavers: Provide
employment opportunities in the rural areas so that
women would not have to leave their parental homes
for work in the cities or overseas.
3 . On adolescents who leave home to study
and live in boarding houses and dorms: Youth
counseling services which will actively promote
healthy lifestyle among youth can be set up in dorms
and boarding houses. To respond to the RH concerns
of youth staying in dorms, counseling services should
be provided and a referral system should be set up.
4 . On schools: Schools have always been a
protective institution for the youth and they should
be active in educating the youth about the
consequences of risk taking behaviors. In connection
with this, schools should conduct youth seminars
and/or set up peer counseling that will provide
information, education and communication
materials on the different risk taking behaviors.
14 | ECHEM, MATEO & SIBAL
5 . On workplaces: Workplaces that usually
employ the services of youth should greatly consider
advocacy among their employees not to engage in
vices. They should help promote healthy lifestyle
among their employees by having regular
orientations or seminars on this topic.
6 . On the increasing prevalence of smoking,
drinking, drug use, and PMS: Local government
units should see to it that dormitories and boarding
houses are strictly implementing ordinances against
smoking, drinking and use of drugs.
7 . On the use of various venues for information
dissemination: In areas where there are youth
gatherings, the print and electronic media should
be used to disseminate information on the negative
consequences risk-taking behaviors. Information
about adolescent sexuality and risk-taking behaviors
should also be regularly included during the conduct
of religious activities both for Christians and
Muslims. Programs that will equip the youth with
life skills, particularly the ability to say “NO” to
risk taking behaviors, should be conducted as early
as during secondary school.
8 . On parental control: Although parental
control tends to weaken when children live away
from home, parents still play a major role in the
lives of a youth. Before the experience of home
leaving, the youth spends a great amount of time
with parents. This is the opportunity for parents to
communicate to their children regarding risk taking
and where these behaviors could lead to. Parents must
also serve as good examples to their children.
REFERENCES
Balane, W. (2006). “Fewer minor-age pregnancies in
Mindanao in 2005.” Retrieved August 30, 2006
fromhttp://mindanews.com/index.php?
option=com_content&task=view&id=756&Itemid=50
Berja, C. L. (2005). Rural poverty and early leaving of
parental homes in the Philippines. Paper presented
at the XXVth IUSSP International Population
Conference, Tours, France. 18-23 July 2005
Cruz, G. T., Laguna, E. P, & Raymundo, C. M. (2002)
“Family influences on the lifestyle of Filipino
adolescents.” Philippine Population Review, 1(1), 39-
63.
Forste, R., & Haas, D. W. (2002). “The transition of
adolescent males to first sexual intercourse:
Anticipated or delayed?” Perspective on Sexual and
Reproductive Health, (34). Retrieved June 17, 2006
from http:///www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/
3418402.html
Frias, N. (2000). Urbanization and premarital sex in the
Philippines. (Unpublished graduate thesis).
University of the Philippines Population Institute,
Diliman, Quezon City.
Galambos, N., & Tilton-Weaver, L. (1998). “Risk
behavior in adolescents and young adults.” Retrieved
June 25, 2006, from http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/
English/981029/d981029.htm#ART1.
Gabriel, M. (2000). “Between homes: A politics of
regional youth migration.” Retrieved June 25, 2006,
from http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/afrc7/
gabriel.html
Hirschi, T. (1969). The causes of delinquency. Berkeley:
The University of California Press.
Health Action Information Network (HAIN). (2006).
Study on the knowledge, attitudes, practices and
behavior toward HIV/AIDS and sexual health practices
among Filipino Youth. Quezon City: HAIN.
International Labor Organization (ILO). (2001).
“Regional fact sheets: Region 9. ILO-International
Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour.”
Retrieved August 30,2006 from http://www.ilo.org/
public/english/standards/ipec/simpoc/philippines/report/
philip1995/r9/r9pr.htm
Irwin, C. E., Jr. (1990). “The theoretical concept of at-
risk adolescents.” Adolescent Medicine: State of the
Art Reviews, February 1(1),1-11.
Jessor, R. (1991). “Risk behavior in adolescence: A
psychosocial framework for understanding and
action.” Journal of Adolescent Health, 12, 597-605.
Jessor, R., & Jessor, S. (1977). Problem behavior and
psychosocial development: A longitudinal study of
youth. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
HOME LEAVING AND RISK TAKING BEHAVIORS OF YOUTH: THE CASE OF ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA
Jones-Kowaleski, L., & Mott, F. L. (1998). “Sex,
contraception and childbearing among h i g h - r i s k
youth: Do different factors influence males and
females?” Family Planning Perspective, 30(4).
Retrieved June 20, 2006, from http://www.ama-
assn.org
Laguna, E. P. (2001). “On their own: Effect of home-
and school-leaving on Filipino adolescents’ sexual
initiation.” Population Series No. 108-19 East West
Center Working Papers. Retrieved June 27, 2006,
from http://www.eastwestcenter.or g/stored/pdfs/
POPwp10819.pdf
Makati Business Club. (2002). “The youth defined.”
Philippine Business 8(5). Retrieved August 30, 2006
from http://www.mbc.com.ph/economic_research/
pbm/2001/no5/agenda.htm
Marquez, M. P., & Galban, N. (2004). Getting hotter,
going wilder?: Changes in sexual risk-taking behavior
among Filipino youth. Paper presented at the 7th
InternationalConference on Philippine Studies,
Leiden, The Netherlands. 16-19 June 2004.
Retrieved June 27, 2006 from http:/web.kssp.upd.
edu.ph/talastasan/papers/marquez
_icophil_paper_revised.pdf
Miguel-Baquilod, M. (2001). Report on the results of the
National Tobacco Survey in the Philippines GYT 2000.
Manila: National Epidemiolog y Center,
Department of Health
National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) (2005).
Regional poverty estimates 2000 and 2003. Retrieved
July 2, 2006, from http://www.nscb. gov.ph/
poverty/2003/subInc.asp
National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB). (2003).
Seven of the country’s poorest in 2000 out of the
poorest list in 2003. Retrieved July 2, 2006, from
h t t p : / / w w w. n s c b. g o v. p h / p r e s s r e l e a s e s / 2 0 0 6 /
06Jun06_PR-200606-SS1-04_poverty.asp
National Statistics Office. (2001, April). Census of
Population and Housing. Report No.1-I Region IX-
Western Mindanao: Population by Province, City/
Municipality and Barangay. Manila: NSO.
National Statistics Office and ORC Macro. (2004).
National Demographic and Health Survey 2003.
Calverton, Maryland: NSO and Macro.
| 15
 Nightingale, E., & Wolverton, L. (1993). The rolelessness
of the adolescent in society: Adolescence in 1990’s.
New York: Teacher’s College Columbia University.

More Mindanao women leaving RP. (2006, July 28).

Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Raymundo, C. M., & Lusterio, C. (1995). “Survey

reveals factors affecting premarital sex among the
youth.” UPPI Sur vey Features. Quezon City.
University of the Philippines Population Institute.

Raymundo, C. M., & Cruz, G. T. (2004). Dangerous

connections: Substance abuse, violence and sex among
Filipino adolescents. Paper presented at the 7th
International Conference on Philippine Studies,
Leiden, Netherlands, 16-19 June 2004.

Umali, V. (1999). The family antecedents of premarital

sexual intercourse among Filipino adults: Male-female
differentials. (Unpublished graduate thesis).
University of the Philippines.

United Nation Development Programme (UNDP).

(2000). Assessing population movement and HIV
vulnerability: Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines
linkages in the East Asean Growth Area. South East
Asia HIV and Development Project. UNDP.
Retrieved August 30, 2006, from http://ciss.insp.mx/
m i g r a c i o n / s i t e _ l i b r a r y /
B I M P. d o c + We s t e r n + M i n d a n a o , + r i s ky +
behavior&hl=en&gl=ph&ct=clnk&cd=5

Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Survey. (2002).

Regional datasheet.

Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Survey. (2002).

National datasheet.

16 | ECHEM, MATEO & SIBAL

View publication stats