THE local civil registry of Baguio City is raising concern over the reported 46 percent increase in teenage motherhood in the city compared to last year’s figures.
Local Civil Registrar Luz Perez noted that during this year’s first quarter, some 108 babies were born to teenagers aged 15 to 19 – 45.94 percent higher than last year’s figures for the same time period of 74 babies.
According to Perez, the youngest mother recorded to date this year is only 13 years old, far from an appropriate age for motherhood.
At the same time, 51.92 percent of the babies born were born out of wedlock.
In the same time period, some 1,379 live births have been recorded, 86 higher than the previous 1,293 of last year over the same time.
701 males and 678 females comprise the 1,379 live births in the first quarter.
29 births were registered late this year, compared to 23 late registrations in the same time of 2021.
