Urban-Rural Differentials in Adolescent Sexuality and Contraceptive Use: Considerations for Policy and Programs

Zelda C Zablan, University of the Philippines
Elma Laguna, Demographic Research and Development Foundation

The 1994 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study conducted in the Philippines found alarming evidence of early and unhealthy sexual practices among its young population. Eighteen percent of Filipino youth within the age range 15-24 have engaged in premarital sex, but only a small percentage had used any forms of family planning methods, with greater preference to less effective ones such as withdrawal and condom. These findings complement previous results of National Demographic Surveys that highlight the peculiar reproductive health practices among young people and their long-term demographic and social impacts. This paper looks anew into adolescent sexuality focusing more on the sexual and contraceptive use practices of Filipino youth. The study describes trends in premarital sexual experiences of Filipino adolescents and young adults, the use of family planning services both during first and last sexual encounters, and the kinds of methods used in both encounters. The study also looks into adolescents’ beliefs and attitudes on a host of issues related to reproductive health and family life such as premarital sex, homosexuality, fertility preference, marital formation and practices of family planning and the various factors that affect these attitudes and practices. The basic contention of the paper is that adolescents derive influences from a multitude of factors inherent within their immediate environment including the family where they grow up, their community, school, church, the mass media and their choices of peers. These help shape their values and beliefs, however, their options and opportunities are contingent on the social and political structure present in the society. In the area of reproductive health service provision, young and unmarried Filipinos face limited access since services are mainly provided to married couples. Access to services is further aggravated by the evident bias towards urban areas putting youth from rural areas at a disadvantage. The primary data source for the analysis is the Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Survey (YAFS) series conducted in 1994 and 2002. These surveys are nationally representative of the Filipino youth ages 15-24, although the recent survey has extended the coverage to age 27. For purposes of comparability, analysis for this paper will be limited to the 15-24 age group. Bivariate analysis is used to look at the distinct urban-rural patterns in sexual and contraceptive use practices while multivariate analysis is employed to identify the determinants of premarital sex experience and contraceptive use among Filipino youth. Moreover, separate analysis is done on males and females to account for gender differentials. The disparity in beliefs and attitudes on sexuality between urban and rural youth as evident from their sexual and contraceptive use practices underscores the need for a deeper understanding of the socio-cultural contexts of adolescent development to enlighten programs and policies on adolescent reproductive health that is more suited to their varying circumstances.