Teenage Pregnancy in the Philippines:

Evidence from the Vital Registration System

Aurora G. Talan-Reolalas
Presented at the 2014 Annual Conference
Philippine Population Association
Holiday Inn, Clark, Pampanga
20-21 January 2014
Introduction

Percentage of Teenagers 15-19 years old

Begun Already Pregnant with

Childbearing Mothers First Child
1998 NDHS 7.2 5.5 1.8
2003 NDHS 8.0 6.1 1.8
2008 NDHS 9.9 7.3 2.6
2011 FHS 9.5 7.4 2.1
 Introduction

Population 10-19 Years Old, Philippines

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Total Population 35,353,698 48,098,307 60,697,994 76,485,088 92,335,113
Population 10-19 8,768,786 11,205,545 14,132,856 16,962,899 19,884,964
Female Population 17,745,003 23,969,592 30,162,655 37,970,515 45,700,856
Female Population
10-19 4,395,181 5,602,675 6,997,839 8,405,902 9,716,452
Percent of 10-19
Pop to Total Pop 24.80 23.30 23.28 22.18 21.54
Percent of Female
Pop 10-19 to Total
Pop 12.43 11.65 11.53 10.99 10.52
 Introduction
2000 2010
Region Total Population Female Population Total Population Female Population
10-19 10-19 10-19 10-19
Philippines 22.18 10.99 21.54 10.52
NCR 18.98 9.76 19.24 9.66
CAR 23.57 11.63 21.75 10.69
Region I 22.03 10.78 20.44 9.86
Region II 23.12 11.26 21.11 10.21
Region III 21.11 10.40 20.59 10.01
Region IVA 20.74 10.31 20.50 10.08
Region IVB 23.22 11.38 23.38 11.31
Region V 23.34 11.30 23.71 11.34
Region VI 23.07 11.35 21.60 10.44
Region VII 22.28 11.05 21.39 10.42
Region VIII 22.85 11.03 23.66 11.27
Region IX 23.51 11.72 23.20 11.32
Region X 23.23 11.47 22.35 10.94
Region XI 23.57 11.63 21.75 10.69
Region XII 24.06 11.92 22.78 11.21
ARMM 26.46 13.43 25.83 12.93
Caraga 24.21 11.87 22.91 11.06
Introduction

Figure 1. Total Marriages for All Ages and Teenage Brides (Under 20 years
700,000 Old), Philippines: 2000-2010
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

All Ages Teen Brides Under 20 Years Old

Percent 14.8 14.7 13.9 13.5 13.2 13.4 13.9 14.1 13.6 13.2 13.0
Teenage
Brides to
Total
O Objectives of the Paper

Provide us some glimpse on the status of teenage pregnancy in the

country based from information taken from the vital registration
system
Does births to teenage women increasing?
What is the proportion of births born to women 13-19 to total births?
Of these births to women 13-19, how many are illegitimate births?
Of the total illegitimate births, what is the proportion of illegitimate births
born to women 13-19?
Does foetal deaths among teenage mothers increasing?
Of the total foetal deaths, what is the proportion that this pregnancy
outcome is illegitimate?
Does maternal deaths among teenage women increasing?
What are the top three causes of maternal deaths among teenage
mothers?
O Limitation of the Data
Data on birth and death were obtained from the certificate of birth (COLB)
and certificate of death (COD), forwarded by the Local Civil Registry
Offices to the Office of the Civil Registrar General (OCRG)/National
Statistics through the Provincial Office of the NSO and later compiled at
the NSO-Civil Registration Department.

The COLB is a record of birth of the child containing vital information on

the identity of the child, while COD is a record of vital information on the
identity of the deceased.

Statistics contained here are facts surrounding the occurrence of the

event in the country for the year specified, late registration was not
included in the statistics, and thereby no adjustment for under-registration
was made
O Concepts and Definition
Vital or Civil registration is defined as the continuous, permanent,
compulsory and universal recording of the occurrence and characteristics
of vital events pertaining to the population as provided through decree or
regulation in accordance with the legal requirements of a country
A civil registration system refers to all institutional, legal, technical
settings needed to perform the civil registration functions in a technical,
sound, coordinated, and standardized manner throughout the country,
taking into account cultural and social circumstances particular to the
country
Live Birth is a complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a
product of conception, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, which
after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such
as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite
movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has
been cut or the placenta is attached- each product of such birth is
considered live born
O Concepts and Definition
Birth (or parity) order refers to the numerical order of the live birth or
foetal death, recorded in relation to all previous issue of the mother,
irrespective of whether the issue is a live birth or foetal death or whether
pregnancies were nuptial or extranuptial
Crude Birth Rate is the number of births actually occurring in an area in
a given time period, divided by the population of the area as estimated at
the middle of the particular time period. The rate is usually expressed in
terms of per 1,000 of population
Gestational Period refers to the interval in completed weeks between the
first day of the last menstrual period of the mother and the day, month and
year of delivery irrespective of whether the product of conception is a live
birth or born with no evidence of life (foetal death)
Birth weight is the first weight of the baby, taken just after he or she is
born. A low birth weight is less than 5 pounds, a high birth weight is more
than 8.8 pounds
O Concepts and Definition
Death is the permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time
after live birth has taken place (postnatal cessation of vital functions
without capability of resuscitation). This definition excludes foetal deaths
Foetal death is death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from
its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of
pregnancy; the death is indicated by the fact that after such separation
the foetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life, such as
beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movement
of voluntary muscles. Fetal deaths later in pregnancy (at 20 weeks of
gestation or more, or 28 weeks or more, for example) are also sometimes
referred to as stillbirths
Foetal death ratio is defined as the number of foetal deaths reported in a
year per 1000 live births in the same year
O Concepts and Definition
Maternal Death is defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or
within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration
and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the
pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes
Maternal Mortality Ratio is defined as the number of maternal deaths
per 100,000 livebirths
Marriage is the act, ceremony or process by which the legal relationship
of husband and wife is constituted. The legality of the union may be
established by civil, religious, or other means as recognized by the laws
of each country
TEENAGE PREGNANCY:
EVIDENCE FROM THE VITAL
REGISTRATION SYSTEM
 O Births to Women Under 20 Years Old
Figure 2. Total Births for All Ages and Births to Women Below 20 Years Old,
Philippines: 2000-2010
2,000,000
1,800,000
1,600,000
1,400,000
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Total Births Births Under 20

Births per

All Ages 203 196 190 191 167 193 190 200 204 199 204
Hour

Under 20 14.4 14.5 14.0 14.1 15.5 16.4 17.6 19.8 21.3 22.3 23.7
O Births to Women Under 20 Years Old
Percent of
Births to Percent Birth Rates for Women Births per day
Births to Women
Women Under Change to Women
Under 20 under 20 years old
Region 20 to Total Births to under 20
Births Women
2000 2010 2000 2010 Under 20 2000 2010 Diff 2000 2010

6.4
Philippines 126,024 207,857 7.1 11.7 64.9 15.0 21.4 345.3 569.5
NCR 22,526 28,675 7.4 11.0 27.3 23.2 25.0 1.8 61.7 78.6
CAR 2,442 3,919 7.4 11.7 60.5 15.4 22.7 7.3 6.7 10.7
Region I 7,485 11,232 7.4 11.4 50.1 16.5 24.0 7.5 20.5 30.8
Region II 4,935 9,145 8.3 14.0 85.3 15.6 27.7 12.2 13.5 25.1
Region III 15,848 24,942 7.8 12.2 57.4 18.5 24.6 6.0 43.4 68.3
Region IVA 18,141 29,450 7.4 11.1 62.3 18.9 23.2 4.3 49.7 80.7
Region IVB 3,308 5,675 6.6 11.7 71.6 12.6 18.3 5.6 9.1 15.5
Region V 6,445 11,844 5.5 9.7 83.8 12.2 19.3 7.1 17.7 32.4
O Births to Women Under 20 Years Old
Percent of
Percent Births per
Births to
Births to Women Change Birth Rates for Women under Day to
Women Under
Under 20 Births to 20 years old Women
Region 20 to Total
Women under 20
Births
Under
2000 2010 2000 2010 2000 2010 Difference 2000 2010
20

Region VI 6,265 12,590 5.1 10.0 101.0 8.9 17.0 8.1 17.2 34.5
Region VII 11,363 17,309 7.4 11.4 52.3 18.0 24.4 6.4 31.1 47.4
Region VIII 4,171 8,522 6.7 12.2 104.3 10.5 18.4 8.0 11.4 23.3
Region IX 4,075 7,010 7.3 12.4 72.0 12.3 18.2 5.9 11.2 19.2
Region X 4,183 11,105 7.0 13.1 165.5 10.3 23.6 13.3 11.5 30.4
Region XI 8,519 12,233 8.2 14.4 43.6 20.0 26.0 6.0 23.3 33.5
Region XII 3,370 8,979 7.6 13.7 166.4 8.8 19.5 10.7 9.2 24.6
ARMM 649 615 7.0 8.1 -5.2 1.7 1.5 -0.3 1.8 1.7
Caraga 2,299 4,612 5.8 12.0 100.6 9.2 17.2 7.9 6.3 12.6
O Births Rates to Women Under 20 Years Old

Birth Rates for Women Birth Rates for Women under

under 20 years old 20 years old
Region Region
2000 2010 Diff 2000 2010 Difference

Region VI 8.9 17.0 8.1

Philippines 15.0 21.4 6.4
Region VII 18.0 24.4 6.4
NCR 23.2 25.0 1.8
Region VIII 10.5 18.4 8.0
CAR 15.4 22.7 7.3
Region I 16.5 24.0 7.5 Region IX 12.3 18.2 5.9

Region II 15.6 27.7 12.2 Region X 10.3 23.6 13.3

Region III 18.5 24.6 6.0 Region XI 20.0 26.0 6.0

Region IVA 18.9 23.2 4.3 Region XII 8.8 19.5 10.7

Region IVB 12.6 18.3 5.6 ARMM 1.7 1.5 -0.3

Region V 12.2 19.3 7.1 Caraga 9.2 17.2 7.9
O Births to Women 13-19 Years Old and Illegitimate Births

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Total Births 1,663,029 1,749,878 1,784,316 1,745,584 1,782,981

Births to Women 13-19 Years Old 154,118 173,211 186,492 195,600 207,814

Percent Births to Women 13-19 9.27 9.90 10.45 11.21 11.66

Years Old to Total Births

Total Illegitimate Births 501,871 594,744 668,841 711,078 765,074

Percent Illegitimate Births to Total
30.18 33.99 37.48 40.74 42.91
Births

Illegitimate Births to Women 13-19 113,676 132,704 147,667 159,132 171,550

Percent Illegitimate Births to
Women 13-19 to Total Illegitimate 22.65 22.31 22.08 22.38 22.42
Births
Percent Illegitimate Births to
Women 13-19 to Births to Women 73.76 76.61 79.18 81.36 82.55
13-19 Years Old
O Live Birth Order

First Baby Second Baby Third Baby

Year Under 20 Years Old Under 20 Years Old Under 20 Years Old
All Ages Number Percent All Ages Number Percent All Ages Number Percent
2000 534,322 104,340 19.5 412,993 18,714 4.5 292,394 2,078 0.7
2001 533,615 105,630 19.8 403,883 18,492 4.6 284,053 1,973 0.7
2002 529,115 102,264 19.3 395,811 18,391 4.6 275,674 1,882 0.7
2003 429,583 85,022 19.8 317,401 5,183 4.8 217,362 1,632 0.8
2004 559,775 112,828 20.2 409,786 19,861 4.8 281,429 2,021 0.7
2005 576,894 120,917 21.0 407,125 20,694 5.1 272,506 1,992 0.7
2006 582,763 129,830 22.3 404,065 21,664 5.4 265,380 2,166 0.8
2007 625,887 146,229 23.4 426,211 24,075 5.6 279,550 2,317 0.8
2008 651,159 158,285 24.3 440,053 25,356 5.8 283,173 2,451 0.9
2009 650,789 165,857 25.5 439,645 26,841 6.1 272,676 2,560 0.9
2010 655,980 175,345 26.7 456,158 29,381 6.4 281,519 2,827 1.0
O Birth Weight

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Birth
Weight
Under Under Under
All Ages Under 20 All Ages 20 All Ages Under 20 All Ages 20 All Ages 20

Total 1,663,029 154,119 1,749,878 173,314 1,784,316 186,551 1,745,584 195,662 1,782,981 207,898

<2500 g 199,539 21,598 218,047 25,160 228,856 27,565 230,376 30,170 235,813 32,310
2500g &
above 1,410,119 127,391 1,480,998 142,940 1,507,162 153,699 1,472,147 160,520 1,505,423 170,752

Not Stated 53,371 5,130 50,833 5,214 48,298 5,287 43,061 4,972 41,745 4,836
% LBW 12.00 14.01 12.46 14.52 12.83 14.78 13.20 15.42 13.23 15.54
O Foetal Deaths

Age of Mother 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Total 8,458 8,191 8,306 8,043 8,095

Percent Below 20 8.35 8.33 8.34 8.94 8.26
Below 20 706 682 693 719 669
<15 11 7 4 2 7
15 25 17 22 31 30
16 57 77 60 70 59
17 138 112 146 137 131
18 215 201 192 219 189
19 260 268 269 260 253
O Foetal Death Ratio

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Total births 1,663,029 1,749,878 1,784,316 1,745,584 1,782,981

Births of women under 20 154,119 173,282 186,527 195,662 207,898

Foetal deaths 8,458 8,191 8,306 8,043 8,095

Foetal deaths for women under 20 706 682 693 719 669

Foetal death ratio 5.09 4.68 4.66 4.61 4.54

Foetal death ratio for women under 20 4.58 3.94 3.72 3.67 3.22

Difference 0.51 0.75 0.94 0.93 1.32

O Illegitimate Late Foetal Death

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Total Foetal Deaths

4,279 4,198 4,178 4,180 4,284
Late Foetal to Women Under 20
318 315 342 350 324
Percent Foetal Deaths to Women Under 20 to Total Foetal Deaths
7.43 7.50 8.19 8.37 7.56
Total Illegitimate Foetal Deaths
1,423 1,832 2,002 2,089 2,179
Percent Illegitimate Foetal Deaths to Total Foetal Deaths
33.26 43.64 47.92 49.98 50.86
Illegitimate Foetal Deaths to Women under 20
239 270 307 300 292
Percent Illegitimate Foetal Deaths to Women 13-19 to Total Illegitimate Foetal
Deaths 16.80 14.74 15.33 14.36 13.40
Percent Illegitimate Foetal Deaths to Women Under 20 to Births to Women
Under 20 75.16 85.71 89.77 85.71 90.12
O Maternal Death
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Region
Total <15 15-19 Total <15 15-19 Total <15 15-19 Total <15 15-19 Total <15 15-19

Philippines 1,721 - 99 1,672 1 125 1,731 2 115 1,599 - 138 1,719 4 164

NCR 186 - 12 216 - 13 176 - 5 176 - 14 229 - 21

CAR 16 - 1 18 - - 10 - - 19 - 3 16 - -

Region I 97 - 7 87 - 4 98 - 6 65 - 3 94 - 9

Region II 53 - 3 34 - 3 50 - 6 50 - 4 41 - 6

Region III 155 - 10 140 - 23 166 1 12 141 - 16 142 1 18

Region IVA 247 - 17 221 - 18 232 - 22 253 - 20 272 1 27

Region
IVB 51 - 4 56 - 6 63 - 4 60 - 4 50 - 8

Region V 184 - 9 178 - 10 159 - 11 155 - 8 145 - 11

O Maternal Death
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Region
Total <15 15-19 Total <15 15-19 Total <15 15-19 Total <15 15-19 Total <15 15-19

Region VI 112 - 6 128 - 5 135 1 8 101 - 8 126 - 15

Region VII 198 - 9 182 - 11 181 - 9 157 - 20 145 - 11

Region VIII 88 - 5 85 - 4 91 - 9 80 - 5 81 1 6

Region IX 58 - 2 66 1 2 75 - 2 70 - 9 80 - 5

Region X 88 - 3 69 - 7 81 - 2 74 - 9 82 1 9

Region XI 82 - 8 74 - 9 91 - 9 89 - 6 102 - 9

Region XII 49 - 1 54 - 5 55 - 5 57 - 5 56 - 5

Caraga 45 - 1 59 - 5 55 - 5 46 - 3 56 - 4

ARMM 12 - 1 5 - - 13 - - 6 - 1 2 - -
O Maternal Death Ratio
Live Births Maternal Deaths MaternalMortality Ratio
Region
All Ages Under 20 All Ages Under 20 All Ages Under 20

Philippines 1,766,326 207,857 1,719 168 97.3 80.8

NCR 303,631 28,675 229 21 75.4 73.2
CAR 33,017 3,919 16 0 48.5 -
Region I 101,310 11,232 94 9 92.8 80.1
Region II 59,585 9,145 41 6 68.8 65.6
Region III 204,532 24,942 142 19 69.4 76.2
Region IVA 245,792 29,450 272 28 110.7 95.1
Region IVB 49,909 5,675 50 8 100.2 141.0
Region V 117,979 11,844 145 11 122.9 92.9
O Maternal Death Ratio
Live Births Maternal Deaths MaternalMortality Ratio
Region
All Ages Under 20 All Ages Under 20 All Ages Under 20
Region VI 123,299 12,590 126 15 102.2 119.1
Region VII 153,080 17,309 145 11 94.7 63.6
Region VIII 61,873 8,522 81 7 130.9 82.1
Region IX 55,931 7,010 80 5 143.0 71.3
Region X 59,659 11,105 82 10 137.4 90.0
Region XI 103,555 12,233 102 9 98.5 73.6
Region XII 44,231 8,979 56 5 126.6 55.7
Caraga 39,616 4,612 56 4 141.4 86.7
ARMM 9,327 615 2 0 21.4 -
O Maternal Cause of Death

Causes of 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Death All All All All
All Ages Under 20 Ages Under 20 Ages Under 20 Ages Under 20 Ages Under 20

Total 1,721 99 5.8 1,672 126 7.5 1,731 117 6.8 1,599 138 8.6 1,719 168 9.8

Eclampsia 354 25 7.1 356 32 9.0 358 41 11.5 302 32 10.6 380 57 15.0
Gestational
Hypertension
with
significant
proteinuria 199 10 5.0 202 13 6.4 200 13 6.5 194 17 8.8 212 19 9.0
Abnormalities
of forces of
labour 194 5 2.6 221 15 6.8 231 18 7.8 200 16 8.0 233 25 10.7
Postpartum
haemorrhage 261 21 8.0 286 13 4.5 274 10 3.6 286 27 9.4 298 14 4.7
Other Causes
of Maternal
Death 713 38 5.3 607 53 8.7 668 35 5.2 617 46 7.5 596 53 8.9
O Summary of Findings
Population for ages 10-19 years old show a slow declining trend from
24.8 percent in 1970 to 21.5 percent in 2010, same holds true to female
population for 10-19 years old from 12.43 percent in 1970 to 10.52
percent in 2010.
NCR, Region V and Region VIII showed an increase in the female
population 10-19 years old between the two censal years 2000 and 2010
Teen marriages also showed a declining trend from 14.8 percent in 2000
to 13.0 percent in 2010. Teen brides consistently contributed more than
10 percent of the brides each year
On the other hand, births to women under 20 years old showed an
increasing trend from 126,024 in 2000 it rose to 207,898 in 2010 with an
increase of about 64.97 percent. The contribution of teenage mothers
ranged from 7.13 percent in 2000 to 11.66 percent in 2010.
O Summary of Findings
In 2000, 14 babies were born per hour or 345 babies born per day to
teenage mothers and this increased to 24 babies born per hour or 569
babies born per day in 2010.
Among regions, around three (3) babies born per hour or 79 babies born
per day in NCR in 2010, the highest among the regions.
Birth rate for women under 20 is 14.99 live births per 1,000 women and
increased to 21.4 live births in 2010, an increase of 6.4 births per 1,000
women under 20.
Region X (13 births), Region II (12 births) and Region XII (11 births) share
more than 10 births difference increase between 2000 and 2010
The proportion of illegitimate births is increasing from 30.2 percent to 42.9
percent, although illegitimate births to women 13-19 show an erratic trend
but the contribution is 22 percent from 2006 to 2010
O Summary of Findings
There is an increasing trend on the number of first time mothers for
women under 20 years, the proportion ranged from 19.5 percent in 2000
to 26.7 percent in 2010. This holds true to second time and third time
mothers of the same age.
Proportion of babies born with low birth weight to women under 20
increased from 14 percent in 2006 to 15.5 percent in 2010.
Foetal deaths from mothers aged 20 and below contributed more than 8
percent of the total each year and numbered more than 8,000 each year
from 2000 to 2010. Foetal death ratio to women under 20 show a decline
from 4.58 foetal deaths per 1,000 live births in 2006 to 3.22 foetal deaths
per 1,000 live births in 2010.
Increasing and high incidence of late foetal deaths to unwed mothers
under 20, from 75.16 percent in 2006 to 90.12 percent in 2010
O Summary of Findings
Maternal deaths recorded from year 2006 to 2010 was more than 1,500
each year. Number of maternal deaths for teenage women ranged from
99 at the lowest in 2006 to as high as 164 in 2010.
Maternal mortality ratio in 2010 was 97.3 maternal deaths per 100,000
livebirths for all ages and 80.8 maternal deaths for women under 20 years
of age and varies among regions.
O Conclusion and Recommendation
Statistics show that teenage pregnancy in the Philippines is on the rise
based from the information from the vital registration system, with an
increasing and high incidence of late foetal deaths to unwed mothers
under 20, and increasing teenage maternal deaths
Although the focus of a number of government programs is aiming at
delaying the beginning of childbearing and thereby hastening fertility
decline, still the problem on teenage pregnancy is there
Preventing teen pregnancy requires a concerted effort on the part of the
parents, the community, the school and government
They need to ensure that the right information is transmitted to children
especially during their pre-teen years and that they are well-monitored
and supported emotionally and psychologically
We cant watch our kids all the time, but if they are equipped with these
information, they can make better decisions for themselves.
O Conclusion and Recommendation
Parents have a special role on their teenage children by having an
increased and open communication lines, talking to their children about
relationship and proper parental guidance
There should be a curriculum in school that focuses on values, attitudes,
communication, as well as biological aspects of reproduction as early as
in elementary grades school
Involving the teens in community and religious services can also lessen
the risk taking behaviour of teenagers especially on vices like smoking,
alcoholism, drugs, etc.
There should be some branches in the government, health and education
services that will work together to create programs for better support for
teenage mothers including help to teenage mothers in returning to
education, improving contraceptive, proper nutrition during pregnancy and
advice services for young people
 Visit the NSO website!!!

www.census.gov.ph