Adolescent sexual habits a taboo for most Filipinos despite high teen pregnancy rates

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Infographic from WomanHealth Philippines.

Defense of family values and regulation of teenage sexuality have only made “a little dent” on the growing rate of teenage pregnancy in the Philippines.

WomanHealth Philippines, a non-government agency focused on women’s health rights, wrote in a statement on Friday that the low success rate is due to the lack of dialogue between adults and adolescents on their sexual health, rights, and responsibilities.

“We are surrounded by sexual innuendos, (yet) we are not comfortable discussing it. Both children and adults are negotiating these sexual scripts, our context without understanding their bodies, their rights, and their responsibilities,” said Young Women Collective Coordinator May-yi Fabros in an email to GMA News Online.

She said that every discussion or negotiation of policies regarding sexual health and reproduction focused on protection rather than “extending and strengthening” the rights of teenagers.

“Seemingly, what our policies—which illustrate our understanding—is that rights begin at 18. And not just the legal kind,” Fabros said.

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