Filipina American teenager mothers: Lessons on education, sex myths, and pregnancy

Filipino Americans experience the entire gamut of sexual health (SH) concerns despite associations relevant to stereotypes (model minority, asexual) and racial categories (Asian, Asian American, or Asian American/ Pacific Islander (AAPI). While national reports suggest that AAPIs few to no SH problems, disaggregate data reveals that Filipinos have alarming incidences of HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy (Javier, Chamberlain, Rivera, & Gonzalez, 2010; Manalansan, 2003; Qin & Gould, 2006, 2011). This study investigates understudied community and their unintended sexual health outcomes: Filipino/a Americans and teenage pregnancy. Complementary research methods- qualitative (in-depth interviews) and quantitative (survey construction)- were utilized with thirty-three participants (teachers, community educators, and teenage mothers (TMs), some who were multiethnic (e.g. Hawaiian, Filipino)) throughout Hawaii. A seven-step logic of inquiry (LOI), which was built upon three exploratory studies over two years, was designed and set the foundation to collect data in the 2008-2009 school year. The LOI uncovered three major findings about TMs: 1. Majority of TMs became pregnant before they received health education in high school, 2. TMs practiced sexual myths that they believed prevented pregnancy (e.g. shower immediately after sex), and 3. TMs recommended sexual health and responsibility (SHR) education topics, which already exists in Board of Education (BOE) polices. The study's implications suggest that society can learn from TMs lived experiences; schools can apply the findings by providing teenagers with timely school health education about sex, dispelling sex myths about pregnancy, and teach in-depth about SHR topics (teen pregnancy, contraception, prophylactics) which support BOE policies.