Prevalence and correlates of early fatherhood among young Filipino men

Despite international efforts to prevent adolescent pregnancy, research on adolescent fatherhood is scarce, especially in developing countries. Adolescent birth rates in the Philippines remain among the highest in Southeast Asia, yet the factors driving it are poorly understood, leaving a significant gap in sexual and reproductive health policy. This study aimed to determine the national prevalence and identify the structural, behavioural and cognitive correlates of early fatherhood among Filipino young men aged 15–19 years. Using data from the 2021 Young Adults Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS5), a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of Filipino youth, we performed weighted hierarchical multinomial logistic regression using a two-stage model-building approach. Results show that 11.9% of sexually experienced Filipino adolescents had become fathers before the age of 20. Recent fatherhood was significantly associated with employment history, and awareness of AIDS or STIs, while current school enrolment, lifetime multiple sexual partners, and modern contraceptive use were associated with lower odds of paternity. This study is the first to provide data on the national prevalence of early fatherhood in the Philippines and the Western Pacific region. Findings underscore the need for policies and programmes addressing the reproductive health of young men.