Half Child, Half Adult: the Perception of Teen Parenting among High School Students

Teen pregnancy and parenthood pose significant global challenges, particularly affecting teenagers in low- and middle-income countries. In the Philippines, college students are aware of teenage pregnancy but face challenges due to inadequate knowledge of contraceptives and societal pressures. Within the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) of the Philippines, teenage pregnancy rates are notably high, impacting adolescent mothers' health, education, and social integration. This study’s aim was to investigate the perception of teen parenting among Science High School students at the University of Baguio, utilizing a descriptive quantitative research design and a structured questionnaire. With a study size of 195 senior high school students from the University of Baguio Science High School, descriptive statistics show mean scores that indicate if the participants believe the indicator will or will not occur. Notably, the senior high school students expressed a high level of agreement that the indicators would occur. Despite this positive level of agreement, there remains a crucial necessity to promote awareness about preventing teenage parenting among future students.