Prevalence of Teenage Pregnancy in Bulacan, Philippines
The specific prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Bulacan province is not available in the current evidence, but national Philippine data shows adolescent pregnancy rates increased from 8% in 2003 to 10% in 2008, with more than 35% of pregnant women below 20 years old considered nutritionally at-risk. 1
National Philippine Context
The Philippines has experienced a concerning upward trend in adolescent pregnancy over the past two decades:
- Repeated pregnancy among adolescents aged 15-19 showed negligible reduction from 20.39% in 1993 to 18.06% in 2013, indicating a persistent and high prevalence over 20 years 2
- Repeated birth prevalence declined minimally from 8.49% in 1993 to only 7.80% in 2013 among this age group 2
- Unlike older age groups (19-21 and 22-24 years) which showed decreasing patterns, 15-18 year olds demonstrated essentially flat trends with adjusted odds ratios of 0.96 for repeated pregnancy and 0.90 for repeated birth 2
High-Risk Factors in the Philippine Setting
The evidence identifies specific correlates of repeat pregnancy that likely reflect broader teenage pregnancy patterns:
- Lower wealth quintiles show significantly elevated risk (OR 1.71,95% CI 1.17-2.49), though trends remain constant across all socioeconomic strata 3
- Partner characteristics strongly predict repeat pregnancy: partners aged ≥30 years (OR 1.99), multiple partners (OR 4.19), and live-in relationship status (OR 1.38) 3
- Among 15-19 year olds specifically, receiving prenatal care from traditional healers (OR 1.93) and giving birth before age 18 (OR 1.12 per year younger) substantially increase repeat pregnancy risk 3
Geographic and Socioeconomic Distribution
While Bulacan-specific data is unavailable, repeated pregnancy and birth prevalence were generally more elevated in poorer communities nationwide, though no differences in trends were noted across wealth quintiles 2. This suggests that teenage pregnancy affects all socioeconomic levels in the Philippines, though absolute rates are higher among disadvantaged populations.
Critical Context for Clinical Practice
The Philippines has shown a constant and considerably high repeated pregnancy prevalence for two decades, unlike other developing countries where rates have declined 2. This stagnation occurs despite:
- The substantial health and socioeconomic consequences of adolescent pregnancy 2
- More than 35% of pregnant adolescents being nutritionally at-risk 1
- High rates of iodine deficiency and anemia among pregnant women of all ages 1
No government programs are specifically geared toward meeting the unique needs of pregnant adolescents, despite existing programs for pregnant women generally 1. This represents a critical gap in the Philippine healthcare system that directly impacts morbidity and quality of life outcomes for this vulnerable population.