Teenage pregnancy poses a double burden for young women, putting both mother and child at risk of negative nutritional outcomes. The Philippines’ 8th National Nutrition Survey (NNS) indicated a higher rate of anemia in pregnant adolescents than adult pregnant women. Per WHO guidelines, women are urged to take iron and folic acid supplements to prevent anemia, iron deficiency, and birth defects. However, the NNS found that a lower proportion of teenaged pregnant women (79 percent) were taking supplements compared to adult pregnant women (85 percent).
Philippine Information Agency, April 2016.