One of the first questions regarding teenage childbearing is what affects it, or more precisely, what are its determinants. Each year in the teenagers become pregnant- at enormous costs to themselves, their children, and society.

                As (Black) further stated there are contributing factors to teenage pregnancy these are:

Educational failure, poverty, unemployment and low self-esteem are understood to be negative outcomes of early childbearing, the absence of caring relationship at home, the existence of a stormy relationship at home with parents and siblings, no open communication between parents and daughters, too strict parents, born to an unwed mother, Broken family, violent mother and father, parents have no time to children, insufficient income for the family needs, peer pressure or influence, peers perception about love and pakikisama. These circumstances also contribute to the likelihood of teen pregnancy.

The effects are:  Financial problem, poor school performance, poverty, low material education, father’s absence, unstable housing arrangement, family situation with regular conflict between members, low socio economic background, harmful psychological and social impact, limited employment opportunities, limited physical activities, low self- esteem, living in rural and remote areas, health problem and children may be exposed to greater deprivation.

Early pregnancy poses a great threat to the woman’s health. It ties the couple to responsibilities they are not yet ready to handle. Pregnancy delays the girl’s studies from having to spend for child rearing. Premarital sex is a sin. Premarital sex is not accepted socially and spiritually. Unwanted pregnancy resulting from premarital sex brings about other bigger problems like abortion. Live in relationship happens when a man and a woman live together as husband and wife in one house without the blessing of marriage, therefore there is no legality in terms of responsibilities and obligations. It also means that children born in a live in relationship tend to be illegitimate. There is no security for either party especially in terms of property acquired during the relationship. Children born under this set up will be illegitimate hence a feeling of insecurity on the part of the children. Live in relationship is a sin in the religions. If one partner is married to another, they are both destroying the family of the other person. The set up limits the chance of both to get a new relationship if ever they break up.

Being separated means, living separately from the legal husband or wife after several attempts of saving the marriage. The inability to settle differences brings about arguments and sometimes violence aside from physical and verbal abuse. Conjugal properties will be difficult to divide. Children are mostly affected with the separation of parents. Separated couple cannot remarry again unless the previous marriage is annulled. One of them is left with more responsibilities than the other. Children are exposed to a different family set up.

Being a single parent, when parents become separated, one of them is tasked to take care of the children and perform all the duties and responsibilities that both parents should be doing. Aside from what was mentioned in the earlier topic regarding the duties and responsibilities of parents the single parent must explain the situations to the children in the best possible manner without condemning the other partner. The single parent must provide for the companionship that would lack because of the separation.

Early marriages have more conflicts because of the couples immaturity and their inability to handle responsibilities and incapability to earn better because of lack of college education. Premarital sex results to unwanted pregnancy causing the couple to marry because of the child more than the reason of love. It also delays the girl’s studies aside from having to spend for child rearing.

Being both the father and mother, a single parent is expected to accept and perform duties and obligations which will rebound to keeping the family intact despite the absence of any of the couple. He or she is tasked to provide for the basic needs of the children such as food, clothing, shelter and education. He is expected to provide physical financial and moral support to the children for their normal and healthy development. He must provide love, affection understanding, and companionship to the children.

Teenagers must be aware, must be careful with their self, that virginity is sacred it’s a gift to be given to the person they will marry someday. To have limit with their actions and not to rush things like engaging in a relationship and doing something that is not right.

By: Giniely V. Venturina | Teacher I | MNHS-CABCABEN | Mariveles, Bataan