Background: Teenage pregnancy is a public health concern because of its increasing incidence and its dire consequences. Numerous studies document the role of family in initiating sexual activity and teenage pregnancy, but there is a lack of studies that assess the effects of families and peers on teenage sexual behavior in the Philippines. Objective: To determine the association between perceived family functionality as measured by the Family APGAR and teenage pregnancy in selected barangays in District 2, Quezon City, Philippines Methodology: The study enrolled 233 women who are residents of Barangays Commonwealth and Payatas in Quezon City. Cases consisted of 133 women aged 18 to 24 years at the time of the interview who have become pregnant in 2011-2016, while they were 13 to 19 years old, while controls (N=100) were similar but had never been pregnant before age 20. Consecutive respondents who consented to participate in the study were enrolled and interviewed using the Filipino version of the Family APGAR. Respondents were then classified as having functional or dysfunctional families. Odds ratio was computed to determine the relationship between family functionality and teenage pregnancy. Results: Family dysfunction based on the Family APGAR score was significantly associated with increased risk of teenage pregnancy with an OR 16.69, 1.93-144 (p=0.010) along with having both parents as caregivers with an OR of 29.69, 2.46-345, and teenage pregnancy in the mother with an OR of 15.87, 2.006-125. Conclusion Perception of dysfunction in the family based on the Family APGAR score, having both parents as caregivers and teenage pregnancy in the mother are associated with teenage pregnancy. Future researches should investigate the interactions of these factors but targeting family functionality may be key to curbing teenage pregnancies.
Pregnancy in Adolescence ; Pregnancy ; Female