In 2023, more than 3,000 children were born to mothers between the ages of 10 and 14 years old in the Philippines. Shockingly, out of all these babies, only 22 had fathers who were the same age as their young mothers. This means that in most cases, the fathers were much older than the mothers.
These worrying numbers were shared during a discussion about the importance of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in the Philippines. The data came from a study by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which showed that the vast majority of fathers were over 17 years old, with many being significantly older.
Dr. Jeepy Perez, who was once the executive director of the Commission on Population and Development, pointed out how critical this situation is. He explained that most of the fathers were not the same age as the mothers, and many were older men who were in positions of power or had control over the young girls, like neighbors or family acquaintances. This raises serious concerns about abuse.
Dr. Perez called the situation a form of abuse that needs to be addressed immediately. He said that these cases often involve older men, and the reality is that many of these pregnancies happen because of statutory rape. He emphasized that under the law, any sexual act with a child below 18 years old is considered statutory rape, even if it does not always result in pregnancy.
The doctor also explained how repeated sexual acts can lead to pregnancy. While one sexual act may only give a 30% chance of pregnancy, multiple acts can increase that chance. This means that these young girls are at risk of getting pregnant multiple times from repeated abuse.
Dr. Perez stressed that these numbers are alarming and require action from the government. The situation shows the urgent need for comprehensive education on sexuality for young people, so they understand their rights, bodies, and the importance of consent. Without this education, these patterns of abuse and teen pregnancies will continue to harm young girls, many of whom are not emotionally or physically ready to become mothers.
In conclusion, the issue of young pregnancies and abuse needs to be addressed with proper education and strong legal actions to protect these vulnerable children. The Philippines must focus on raising awareness and providing support to prevent these tragedies from repeating.
