Out of over 3k babies, only 22 have fathers of same age as teen moms

Out of the more than 3,000 children born to mothers aged 10 to 14 years old in 2023, only 22 had fathers who were of the same age as their mothers.

This, according to a former executive director of the Commission on Population and Development who indicated the need for comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) among the young.

The numbers were based on a study by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and they were highlighted during the media discussion regarding the implementation of CSE in the Philippines.

Dr. Jeepy Perez, former executive director of the Commission on Population and Development, said this is one of the main reasons why the CSE is important and that the number needs to be taken action by the government.

“Only 22 of the fathers reported were the same age as the mother. Ninety-nine percent of the reports of births had someone older than 17 years old. Older than them,” Dr. Jeepy Perez said.

He said the fathers were men in positions of power, economic control, a neighbor, or someone invited to the house. 

Perez said these are such incidents of abuse that must be addressed. 

“If you look at the entire year of 2023, all births to children in 2023 would be on the face of statutory rape. And the numbers are quite alarming,” Perez said. 

He said the law did not affect those who are causing all the pregnancies.

Perez said rape did not always result in pregnancy and this led to the chance of repetition. 

“It is the repetition. It is a repeated act. Because you only get a 30% chance of getting pregnant with a single sexual act. So you could have 3 or 4 acts before you get pregnant,” Perez said. –NB/KG, GMA Integrated News