Is Urbanization a Reliable Antecedent of Adolescent Sexual and Risk Behavior? Comparisons in Northern Mindanao Region, Philippines

Carmeli Marie C Chaves, University of the Philippines

Urban-rural residence and urban exposure of Filipino adolescents in Northern Mindanao Region are related to their sexual and risk behavior. This regional study is part of the 2002 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality (YAFS3) survey, which is the third nationwide survey on adolescent sexuality, fertility, and reproductive health. YAFS3 covered all 16 regions of the Philippines and surveyed males and females aged 15-27 years old. In order to determine a nationally representative sample of this age group, the survey used a two-stage self-weighting design with regions as main domains. The results for Northern Mindanao Region show that urban and rural youth manifest distinct sexual and risk behavior, likely influenced by the availability and accessibility of certain amenities in their location. Access to information is crucial in shaping the behavior of both urban and rural adolescents. The pervasive influence of mass media, particularly television, on the youth crosses urban-rural boundaries.