More young Pinoys engaging in premarital sex

A growing number of young Filipinos are engaging in premarital sex (PMS), with most girls having their "sexual debut" in their boyfriends’ homes, a report of the United Nations Population Fund and the Commission on Population shows.

The report, entitled "State of the Population Report, 2nd Issue," reveals that the "popular venue for sexual debut" of young Filipino females (32 percent) in urban areas are their partners’ homes, and for males (30 percent), hotels or motels.

And for those in the rural areas, the popular venues are beaches, parks or farms.

"Data suggest that boys are more adventurous than girls as the former identified the classroom as one of the venues for their first (sexual) experience. The workplace can also be the location of these experiences, slightly more so for girls than for boys," the report says.

The report was based on the Young Adult Fertility Survey-3 where about 20,000 youths aged 15 to 24 were interviewed.

The survey shows an increase in PMS prevalence from 18 percent in 1994 to 23 percent in 2002 — or two out of 10 young Filipino adults.

Ninety-four percent of those who had experienced PMS admitted that they were "unwilling and unprepared to become parents."

"Sex becomes risky when done by those who are physiologically and psychologically ill-prepared for its consequences. And early sex among (the) youth is much riskier," the study says.

Prevalence

The study reveals that while PMS prevalence is much higher among young Filipino males, their female counterparts are slowly catching up.

It notes that in 1994, the PMS prevalence rates for young Filipino males and females were 26 and 10 percent, respectively. But in 2002, the prevalence rates went up to 31 percent for males, and 16 percent for females.

As a general observation, the report says, "Once one gets initiated to it, a repeat either with the same partner or with another is most likely."

"For many, the first sexual encounter... was a spontaneous event," the study says.

For about 50 percent of the young adults interviewed, premarital sex was "something they did not plan to happen at that time but they went along with it anyway."

"For many people, adolescence is a healthy transition period from childhood to adulthood during which time they acquire knowledge, values and skills that will benefit them now and in the future. Highlighted in this lifestyle is sexual development which is a normal part of adolescence," the study says.

It adds: "Fortunately, most young people go through these changes without encountering significant problems. Nevertheless, large numbers of young men and women engage in behaviors that can potentially hurt their transition to adulthood and the consequences of which may persist through the rest of their lives."