Daven Tamayo

'Rising HIV cases, teen pregnancies show systemic gaps in reproductive health education'

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The rise in HIV or human immunodeficiency virus cases and adolescent pregnancy among Filipino youth shows &quot;systemic gaps&quot; in reproductive health education, the Commission on Population and Development said. The Department of Health on Tuesday sounded the alarm on the increase of HIV cases in the Philippines, which was logging around 57 new daily infections in the first quarter of the year — the highest in the Western Pacific region.The health department said the HIV epidemic <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/6/3/hiv-cases-in-ph-rise-by-500-among-ages-15-25-doh-0944">is affecting more young people</a> and has reached the level at which a national public health emergency could be declared to strengthen the efforts to mitigate the rising cases. The population commission also noted that the country is still registering &quot;a high number&quot; of adolescent pregnancies. It saw an &quot;alarming increase&quot; particularly among 10- to 14-year-olds — from 2,411 in 2019, teen pregnancies increased to 3,343 in 2023.&quot;The incidence of HIV infections and adolescent pregnancy are two overlapping issues that show systemic gaps in accessing reproductive health education,&quot; the agency said in a statement.It said young Filipinos still lack accurate information about safe sex, HIV prevention, and contraceptive use. A 2021 study on young adult fertility and sexuality revealed that &quot;material sources of information about sex of young people is none, followed by social media,&quot; the commission said.<div>ONLY ABOUT 1 IN 3 HAVE COMPREHENSIVE HIV KNOWLEDGE</div>According to the 2022 Integrated HIV and Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance Report, only 36 percent, or about 1 in 3, of MSM (men having sex with men) have comprehensive knowledge about HIV, such as condom use and transmission myths, said the agency.It said that HIV awareness also dropped among youth aged 15 to 17. The 2022 report said more than 45 percent of respondents &quot;wrongly believed&quot; that withdrawal before ejaculation reduces HIV risk, the agency said.It added that only 56 percent of MSM and 64 percent of transgender women knew that antiretroviral therapy to reduce a person&#x27;s viral load exists.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/6/4/hiv-fact-sheet-symptoms-prevention-and-treatment-0126">HIV fact sheet: Symptoms, prevention and treatment</a></div>&quot;Breaking the cycle of HIV transmission and unplanned pregnancies also needs to strengthen the policy environment to include the enactment of the proposed national policy on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and intensified implementation of the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act (RA 11166),&quot; the population commission said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/21/hontiveros-to-refile-divorce-bill-push-sogiesc-and-teenage-pregnancy-bills-in-20th-congress-1645">Hontiveros to refile divorce bill, push SOGIESC and teenage pregnancy bills in 20th Congress</a></div>It said parents and guardians should be equipped to teach sexual and reproductive health to their children.&quot;The well-being of our young people on which our future depends is at stake if these sexual and reproductive health are not addressed,&quot; Lisa Grace Bersales, executive director of the population commission, said in the news release.&quot;We call on educators, institutions, local governments, especially parents and families and other stakeholders to join us in this critical effort. Investing and ensuring that every youth is protected and their potentials are developed is the key to a progressive family, community and eventually our country,&quot; Bersales added.The Senate earlier this year failed to pass a bill aimed at preventing teen pregnancies after a deluge of disinformation on social media tainted the intent of the proposed legislation.Critics also raised questions about <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/19/wrap-bill-to-prevent-teen-pregnancies-births-questions-on-morality-masturbation-1454">morality, masturbation</a>, and the propriety of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/1/21/teen-pregnancy-bill-triggers-senate-panel-probe-into-sex-ed-implementation-1316">teaching young students about sexual identity and expression</a>.Sen. Risa Hontiveros at the time said she had filed a substitute bill to address some of the &quot;legitimate&quot; concerns on the proposed measure, following backlash from her colleagues and other sectors.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/1/23/-para-hindi-na-mabaluktot-hontiveros-refines-anti-teen-pregnancy-bill-1329">&#x27;Para hindi na mabaluktot&#x27;: Hontiveros refines anti-teen pregnancy bill</a></div><div>—Rowegie Abanto, ABS-CBN News; with Jonathan de Santos and Jauhn Etienne Villaruel, ABS-CBN News</div>

The rise in HIV or human immunodeficiency virus cases and adolescent pregnancy among Filipino youth shows "systemic gaps" in reproductive health education, the Commission on Population and Development said.

The rise in HIV or human immunodeficiency virus cases and adolescent pregnancy among Filipino youth shows "systemic gaps" in reproductive health education, the Commission on Population and Development said.