ANG pagbubuntis at panganganak ng ilang kabataan, laluna yung mga “unmarried teenagers,” ay isa sa mga itinuturing na “pressing social concerns” sa bansa.
Ayon kay Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, “This is ge-nerally prevalent among women aged 15-24 who are from the low-income bracket… and their pregnancies are often considered untimely or unwanted. Hence, maturity and preparedness required of every parent are, often times, wanting.”
Pinansin niya na may serbisyo ang Department of’ Health na ‘prenatal and postnatal consultations designed to reduce the incidence of maternal and infant mortality.’ Pero bunsod aniya ng ibat-ibang rason partikular ang matinding kahirapan ng maraming kababayan, ang aspetong ito ay hindi gaanong nabibigyan ng atensiyon.
Kaugnay nito ay ipinupursige ni Jinggoy ang Senate Bill 1595 (Maternal and Infant Care Act) na nagtatakda ng mga sumusunod:
1. This bill seeks to improve and expand the avai-lability of, and access to, needed comprehensive maternity care services that enable pregnant adolescents to obtain proper care and assist pregnant adolescents and adolescent parents to become productive independent contributors to family and community life.
2. A pregnant woman not more than 21 years old, or families with an infant up to the age of one, belonging to the low income bracket, shall be eligible to receive maternal and infant care services provided under this Act.
3. The DOH shall require health centers to designate an appropriate health professional or a qualified non-professional acting under the supervision of a health care professional who shall deliver maternal and child health services in the home of eligible individuals.
4. The maternal and child health services which may be provided in the home to eligible individuals shall include:
a.) instruction and counseling regarding future health care for the woman and her child;
b.) nutrition counseling;
c.) counseling and education concerning all aspects of prenatal care, childbirth, and motherhood;
d.) general family counseling, including child and family development; and
e.) medical care or referral for medical care for the woman and her child.
Nilinaw ni Jinggoy na ang maternal and child health services ay hindi kailanman magrerekomenda ng aborsyon.