Good afternoon

- Twice during the early period of human history God specifically instructed human beings to be
fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth. In the light of these commands, some would ask
how anyone can advocate population control. One would wonder what would have happened if
sin had not come and none of Adam and Eve’s offspring had died? Would human beings today
even have had a place to stand on this earth? However, sin crept in, but God did not forget to
provide us with specific instructions.

- Parents are children’s first teachers. Everywhere is competitive and full of temptations. If we
don’t guide our children to choose the right direction in life, they will easily walk the wrong path.

Maybe our child is young and we can guide him at his side anytime. However, he will grow up and
leave us one day. Then how can we make sure he won’t be influenced by unhealthy practices in
society?

- (EGW) As the youth are educated, and as their characters are molded in their childhood to
virtuous habits, self-control, and temperance, so will their influence be upon society. If they are
left unenlightened and uncontrolled, and as the result become self-willed, intemperate in
appetite and passion, so will be their future influence in molding society. The company which the
young now keep, the habits they now form, and the principles they now adopt are the index to
the state of society for years to come
Teenage pregnancy affects about 6% of Filipino girls. That sounds like a small number but is the
second highest rate in Southeast Asia based on Save the Children’s Global Childhood Report from
2019. An estimated 538 babies are born to Filipino teenage mothers EVERY SINGLE DAY,
according to the Philippine Statistical Authority.

Last August, the Philippines' economic development agency declared the number of teenage
pregnancies a "national social emergency."

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO PAMPANGA – The latest civil-registry statistics for 2019 from the
Philippine Statistics Authority revealed that births among adolescent girls remained high in
Central Luzon contributing a total of 20,974 or 31.27% of the total adolescent birth rate in the
country with 67,082. There were also 311 live births or 1.48% percent coming from very young
adolescents aged 10-14 for the same year. Among the 7 provinces, Bulacan ranked first in
teenage pregnancy in 2019 with a total of 5,414, followed by Pampanga with 4,708, Nueva Ecija
at 3, 928, Tarlac at 2,032, Bataan at 2,006, Zambales at 591 and Aurora at 485.

26% of our Filipino youth nationwide from ages 15-25 admitted to having a premarital sex
experience. Worst: 38% of our youth are already in a live-in arrangement

The pandemic has made the situation worse. With Manila under a strict lockdown — including
limited access to medical facilities, no public transportation and harshly enforced rules on not
going out — access to birth control has been severely curtailed, particularly for teenagers. An an
estimated 751,000 additional unplanned pregnancies because of the conditions created by the
pandemic on 2021.
Having a mother bearing her first child before age 20 was a significant predictor for teenage
pregnancy. We found Daughters of teenage mothers to be 51 % more likely to have a teenage
pregnancy than those whose mothers were older than 19 when they bore their first child.

- (POVERTY) The parents' choice of the number of children to be born is not only a personal
matter; their choice affects society, too. Ironically, it is usually the poor individuals in each
country and the poor countries in the world that delight in mass production of children.

- The lack of attention and affection from family resulting in depression forces them to seek love
and support from other people, especially members of the opposite sex.

2. Education
- How often can you recall STI/STD’s being discussed in your high school health classes? The
teacher did not want to or lacked direction from the state on how to talk about safe sex or how
to prevent infections, diseases, and teen pregnancy from happening. Instead of discussing the
topic, teachers and health professionals will say that abstinence is key and move on.
Our culture is very patriarchal and very traditional, so women and girls do not have power to
make decisions for their own self. For their health, for their body, their participation, their voice,
their education. As well, even though the comprehensive sexuality education curriculum is there,
often the teacher is not confident to deliver the information, and it is not something they feel
comfortable to talk about. They feel they cannot introduce these ideas to children, it is only for
those who are married.
Lack of sexual education causes teens to get abortions as they ultimately realize their
inability to bear the responsibilities of being a parent at such a young age.
- Girls who have received minimal education are 5 times more likely to become a mother
than those with higher levels of education. Pregnant girls often drop out of school, limiting
opportunities for future employment and perpetuating the cycle of poverty. In many cases, girls
perceive pregnancy to be a better option than continuing their education.
- With COVID-19 forcing a nationwide shut-down, many students cannot obtain
contraceptives from their health center or local grocery store. This problem creates another
epidemic in the sense of teen pregnancy. However, their desire to want to do something while
quarantined inside may have resulted in teen pregnancies.

3. FRIENDS/ PEER PRESSURE

- Proverbs 12:26 says The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked
leads them astray.
- peer pressure has been found to significantly influence teenage pregnancy
- Peer pressure could influence the typical teenager's perception about sexuality so much so that
teenagers tend to conform to the norms about sexual behaviour which are deemed acceptable to
the peer group to which he or she belongs.
- A survey suggests that 30% of boys are pressurized by their peers to take part in sexual activity.
Every so often, it is the male peers who direct this pressure towards other teenagers forcing them
to have sex even when they are not ready. Boys are much more pressured to engage in sexual
activity than girls.

- Substance use among adolescents increases the risk of unplanned pregnancies, which then
increases the risk of fetal exposure to addictive, teratogenic substances.

4. Sexual Violence
- School closures during crises can result in girls spending more time with men and boys
than they would were they to be in school, leading to greater likelihood of engagement in risky
sexual behaviour and increased risk of sexual violence and exploitation.
5. Technological Factors
- With teenagers having pronounced accessibility on technology from television, gadgets,
applications, and the internet, teenagers are prone to information, visuals and audio that
introduce them to the world of pornography, to the world that it is not yet allowed for them, and
that their young minds still cannot fully decipher.
- Teens who watch a lot of television with sexual content are more likely to initiate sexual
intercourse in the following year and that frequent exposure to TV sexual content was associated
with a significantly greater likelihood of teen pregnancy in the three years following exposure

Effects of Teen Pregnancy

1. Early Marriages
- Causes of early marriages were found to be due to pregnancy, arranged/ forced marriages,
pushed by parents because young people were in a relationship, and to escape a dire situation at
home.

2. High dropout rates in schools (DepEd)

- Having to balance motherhood and education simultaneously appears to be an overwhelming
experience for teenage mothers. As a result, irregular school attendance and poor school
performance during and after pregnancy often lead to the girls dropping out of school.
- Teenage pregnancy perpetuates the cycle of poverty and inequality, as it does not only
negatively impact the lives of young parents and their children, but also disenfranchises them
from economic opportunities as adolescent pregnancy forces a majority of teenage parents to
abandon their education

3. Increased Maternal Morbidity and Mortality

- Adolescent pregnancy is also associated with higher rates of low birth weight, preterm delivery,
respiratory diseases and infant mortality
- Of the estimated 5.6 million abortions that occur each year among adolescent girls aged 15–19
years, 3.9 million are unsafe, contributing to maternal mortality, morbidity and lasting health
problems (WHO)
- Adolescent mothers (ages 10–19 years) face higher risks of eclampsia, puerperal endometritis,
and systemic infections

Prevention
One of the texts grossly misused by opponents of family planning is Psalm 127:3 “Lo, children are
an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. No one can refute the truism
that children are a blessing from the Lord. But are all children a blessing or a reward from the
Lord? Since the term Blessing implies something that brings happiness to the recipient. What
happiness does a rebellious child bring to its parents?

So in light with our topic on preventing teen pregnancy, sexual education starts at home.
** The minute parents hear, in the delivery room, “It’s a boy,” “It’s a girl. Consider how many
parents bring newborns home in a pink or blue outfit or use the phrases, “He’s all boy” or “She’s
such a Daddy’s girl.” These gendered messages are part of your child's sexuality education.
- Sexual education is a constant development that starts from birth and continues across the
developmental life span. During this process, it is crucial to lay a strong foundation for sexual
health
- It is constantly it is being discussed and highly publicized in our society via Mass Media and
some of the most influential people in our lives. Sexual education is more than sex; it’s about
sexual development, reproduction, intimacy, gender role relationships and self-respect.

**- As parents, guardians, and family members we should be the key instructors in determining
the basis of our child’s sexual education. On a daily basis, we as parents should take every given
opportunity to teach this subject to our children. This should be taught in the beginning stages of
a child’s life. We need to teach them how to respond to appropriate affection, show love, and
how to respond to different types of relationships. They are taught about it when their parents
speak to them, change, or choose their favorite pieces of clothing, playing with them and
teaching them about their body parts. As they progress from children to teenagers to
adolescents, they are consistently learning about their sexualities. Without your guidance, your
children may have a hard tim understanding their bodies, their feelings, the images they see, or
the words they hear.
- It's important to talk with your children about sexuality because if they aren't hearing from you,
they are absorbing someone else’s messages. And whose messages are those? Siblings and
friends, grandparents, babysitters, teachers and doctors as well as video games, toys, television,
magazines, movies and newspapers.

** Children take their lead from their parents. The notion humans can learn through observing
others is not new. children of active parents are significantly more likely to be active themselves.
Being an overweight parent is a risk factor for raising an overweight child. Parents’ attitudes and
modelling of behaviours around alcohol and cigarettes are associated with adolescent rates of
use. And, interestingly, children who have been exposed to a parent’s infidelity are more likely to
engage in infidelity themselves.

- It’s never too early to talk with your child about sex. Talking about sex, sexuality and bodies
from when your child is young can help your child understand that sex and sexuality are healthy
parts of life.

- The key early message is that your child can come to you for open, honest and reliable
information, and that your child shouldn’t feel scared or embarrassed to ask you about sex and
sexuality.

1. Explain things at your child’s level

- Explain things at a level your child can understand. For example, six-year olds won’t want a
long explanation of ovulation. It’s best to keep your explanation brief, factual and positive if you
can.
- 0-2 years: You can use everyday moments to help your child learn about bodies – for
example, bath time or while you’re helping your child get dressed are good times to introduce
the names of body parts.
 - 2-3yo: They’ll also notice that boys’ and girls’ bodies are different. Your child might ask you
why or say, ‘What’s that?’ You can teach your child that every body part has a name and its own
‘job’ to do. For example, 'This is your vulva' or 'Your penis is where wee comes out'. You might
find that looking at a book with your child is helpful. You can use the pictures to help your child
learn the names for body parts and understand the differences between boys and girls
- 4-5yo: If your child asks ‘Where do I come from?’ you could ask, ‘What do you think?’ This
helps you work out what your child is really asking and how much your child understands. You
could give a simple explanation like ‘Babies grow in a place inside their mother called the uterus’.
If you’re pregnant your child might ask, ‘Where does the baby come out?’ Give a simple but
accurate answer like ‘Your little sister is growing in my uterus. When she’s finished growing, she’ll
squeeze through the birth canal, which is called the vagina’.
- 6-8yo: If your child asks, ‘How did the baby get into your uterus?’ ask your child what they
think. This helps you understand what your child already knows. Then you can explain simply,
giving as much information as you’re comfortable with. For example, ‘To make a baby, a sperm
from a man and an egg from a woman join together.’ It’s also good to explain that sexual
intercourse is something that grown-ups do when they are married. You might also like to say
that sometimes babies enter families in different ways like IVF, adoption, foster care or
grandparent care.
9-12yo: By this age, speak to your children about puberty. Explain what kinds of changes
they can expect and why. Share your own experiences and invite them to ask questions. They
may have emotional reactions, like fear and anxiety. Try to quell their anxiety by explaining that
while these changes can be difficult, everyone goes through them. You can read a book together
on puberty for further information

2. Use correct names for body parts

- It’s a good idea to use the correct names when you’re talking about body parts – for
example, penis, scrotum, testicles, vulva, vagina. It’s OK to use pet names too. But using the
correct names helps to send the message that talking about these parts of our bodies is healthy
and OK.
- It’s important to educate children that they own their body. They are in charge of it and
their private parts belong to them. Body ownership ties in with children's rights, and children
have a right to express how they feel and to have control over who touches them.
- When children have a clear understanding of their body, especially their private parts, we
are helping equip them to be more likely to be able to ward off potential grooming from sexual
abusers.
- Having pet names for your child's private parts could inadvertently teach them that their
private parts are places we shouldn’t speak about, and/or that they are ‘rude places’. This could,
potentially, lead your child to believe that they must keep any inappropriate touch a secret.
- If your child’s genitals are hurt or there is a medical problem, it is easier for your child to
tell you and/or a health-care professional with more accuracy.

** ELLEN WHITE EXCERPTS

** HOW TO PREVENT
1. Be clear about your own sexual values and attitudes. It will be much easier for you to talk with
your child if you have thought through these questions:

How do you feel about school aged teens being sexually active? Becoming parents?
Who needs to set the sexual limits in a relationship? How is this done?
Were you sexually active as a teen? How do you feel about that now? Were you sexually active
before you were married? How do the answers to these questions affect what you will say to
your children?
How do you feel about encouraging teens to abstain from sex?
What do you think about teens using contraceptives?

2. Talk with your children early and often about sex and love. Be specific.
- Listen carefully to find out what your child already understands. Make your conversations
back and forth—two ways. Talking with your children about sex will not encourage them to
become sexually active.
- Do your best to be an “askable” parent. Let your children know that they can talk with you
about whatever they are thinking or worrying about.
- Kids say they want to discuss these kinds of questions:
How do I know I’m in love? Will sex bring me closer to my boyfriend?
How will I know when I’m ready for sex? How will I know when I’m ready to get married?
Will having sex make me more popular? Will I be more grown-up and be able to do more
adult activities?
How do I tell my girlfriend/boyfriend that I don’t want to have sex—without losing him/her
or hurting his/her feelings?
How do I respond when my girlfriend/boyfriend pressures me to have sex?
What about contraceptives? How do they work? Which are the safest? Which work the
best?
Can you get pregnant the first time?

3. Supervise and monitor your children’s activities.

- Know where your children are at all times. Are they safe? What are they doing? Are they
involved in useful activities? If they aren’t with you, are responsible adults supervising them? You
may be accused of being too snoopy, but you can help your children understand that parents
who care know where their kids are.

4. Know your children’s friends and their families.

- Since peers have a strong influence on teens, do your best to help your children choose friends
from families with similar values. Welcome your children’s friends into your home, and talk with
them regularly. Talk with their parents about curfews, common rules and expectations.

5. Encourage group activities.

- Discourage early, frequent and steady dating. Long before your child asks you if he or she can
date a certain person, make it clear that one-on-one dating before 16 can lead to trouble. Letting
your children know ahead of time will help them see that you are not reacting to a particular
person or invitation.

6. Help your teens have options for the future that are much more attractive than early
pregnancy and parenthood.
- Help them set real, meaningful goals for their future. Talk with them about what they will need
to do to reach their goals, and help them reach these goals. Help them see how becoming a
parent can derail the best of plans. For example, child care expenses can make it almost
impossible to afford college.

7. Emphasize how much you value education

- Set high expectations for your child’s school performance. If your child is not progressing well in
school, intervene early. School failure is one of the key risk factors for teen parenthood. Keep
track of your children’s grades and meet with teachers.

8. Know what your kids are watching, reading and listening to.
- Messages about sex sent by the media (TV, radio, movies, music videos, magazines, the
Internet) are almost certainly at odds with your values. Be “media literate” about what you and
your family are watching and reading. Teach your children to think critically; talk with them about
what they are learning from the programs they watch and the music they listen to. Do not allow
televisions in your children’s bedrooms.

9. Strive for a relationship that is warm and affectionate—firm in discipline and rich in
communication.
- Express your love, affection and appreciation clearly and often. Hug your kids and tell them how
much you love them every day.
Listen carefully to what your children say. Pay attention to what they do.
Spend fun, pleasant time with your children daily, if possible. This is the foundation for your
relationship. It is the bank account that will help you through the inevitable rough patches ahead.
Be kind and courteous to your children, and let them know you expect the same in return. Don’t
compare one child against another. Let each child know he/she is one of a kind—and priceless.
Help them master new skills. Real, enduring self-esteem has to be earned the old-fashioned way
— through feeling good about what you do.
Try to have at least one family meal together each day. Use the time together to talk—not to
argue.
Know that it’s never too late to work on a good relationship with your child. Even though your
teen may be acting like she doesn’t want to have anything to do with you, those are probably not
her real feelings. Children of all ages want a close relationship with their parents, and they yearn
for their parents’ help, approval and support.

- If you can see, I did not discuss family planning or contraception, and I intended it to do so.
Pregnancy is one of the happiest moments in life of a woman, and it should be among the grown-
ups (>20yo), within the bounds of marriage, where the couples are able to provide the needs of
the child....the physical, emotional and spiritual needs and a good quality of life.
However, it is also time of enormous physical and emotional changes in women, which is why a
teenager is not the right time and the wrong age of getting pregnant. Before getting yourself
pregnant, as yourself...am I able to provide a good quality of life to my child until he becomes an
adult? To the parents, We have to strengthen our homes with love and guard our children
especially our teens. Always remember be an Askable Parent.

- God underscores the need for planning in all aspects of the Christian life. And in like manner, we
should be sure of the morality of family planning, or planned parenthood. the proper training of
and care for our children is a sacred obligation. It affects both our own souls and those of our
children.

Tell your teens and even your little ones the importance of living a simple, happy and successful
life before giving life.