Teenage pregnancy: The journey of parenthood of Mary Grace Bunag: A photoessay on teenage pregnancy

Disturbing health trends concerning the Filipino youth have been found out by the 2014 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality (YAFS) study. According to the study, premarital sex among the youth is on the rise, from 23.2% of the youth engaging in premarital sex in 2002. Also, the incidence of teenage childbirth has doubled over the past decade. In 2002, only 6.3% of Filipino girls aged 15 to 19 were either pregnant for the first time or were already mothers. But in 2012, it was doubled to 13.6%. Mary Grace Bunag, 17 years old, is part of the growing numbers and a representation of the many teenagers who got pregnant at an early age. This photographic essay highlights her journey as a graduating high school student and another journey as she enters a whole new world that is parenthood. This covers the important events in the subject\u27s journey to parenthood including her school activities, pre-natal check-ups, household activities as she is living with the father of her child, childbirth, and her first few days with her child after giving birth. With the growing numbers, teenage pregnancy is fast becoming the defining issue of the Filipino youth today. This photographic essay aims to address the prevalent issue of teenage pregnancy that is undeniably happening in our country