MANILA, Philippines?One of the main Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society initiatives this year is to reduce teen pregnancy through information dissemination either by conducting lectures, open forum and distribution of Adolescent Health Issues and Perspectives comics.

POGS president Dr. Ma. Corazon Zaida Noblejas-Gamilla explained that while there may be more reasons, the following have been cited more often as to why teen pregnancy should be discouraged:

? Risk for malnutrition. Since teenage mothers tend to eat poorly, they are also less likely to take the recommended daily multivitamins and minerals needed to maintain adequate nutrition of their baby.

? Risk for inadequate prenatal care. Teenage mothers are less likely to seek regular prenatal care since they are likely to avoid public exposure due to social stigma and discrimination.

? Risk for fetal deaths. Statistics of the Department of Health show that fetal deaths are more likely to happen to young mothers since the babies born to them are likely to have low birth weight and may suffer deficiencies and birth defects.

Complication would include having high blood pressure that could severely affect the mother and her baby during pregnancy and while giving birth; and excessive bleeding following the birth of the baby (postpartum hemorrhage).

? Risk for abortion. Unplanned pregnancies could lead to abortion. While illegal, abortion continues to persist further increasing a pregnant individual?s risk to tetanus poisoning, adverse drug reaction and other complications related to abortion procedure.

? Risk for acquiring cervical cancer. Women who engage in sex before 18, have a pregnancy at or younger than 18, or have had at least five sexual partners, or have had a partner with at least five sexual partners are at increased risk for acquiring the Human Papillomavirus, the main cause of cervical cancer that kills 10 in every 100,000 Filipino women.

Charles E. Buban