Christine Marie Habito

Thesis: Someday, my child can be proud of me, and I can be proud of my child’: exploring contexts, perceptions and lived experiences of adolescent pregnancy and parenthood in the Philippines

---

2021

Supervisors

A/Prof Cathy Vaughan
A/Prof Alison Morgan

Thesis Title

Someday, my child can be proud of me, and I can be proud of my child’: exploring contexts, perceptions and lived experiences of adolescent pregnancy and parenthood in the Philippines

What is the weirdest thing that happened while you were at the School?  

When the basement flooded – it was quite a drama!

What is your fondest memory from your PhD?  

Seeing all the smiling faces of my supervisors, advisory panel, family, and friends (spanning four timezones) at my Zoom completion seminar. It was not how I imagined my completion seminar happening, but it was certainly still one of my favourite moments in the PhD experience.

What are you up to now?  

I am a Research Officer in the Global Adolescent Health Team at the Burnet InstituteWhat advice would you have for current PhD students? Take the time to eat noodles and have coffee with your PhD batchmates. You may just come away with some of the sweetest, most thoughtful, supportive friends you will ever meet.

Description of PhD Project

Amid declining global and regional fertility rates, adolescent childbearing has been increasing in the Philippines over the last two decades. This study aims to develop a deeper understanding of the factors associated with adolescent pregnancy and parenthood in the Philippines through a mixed methods approach. Quantitative analysis was done through further analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys data to determine what more could be learned about adolescent sexual initiation and pregnancy using existing data. Primary qualitative data were gathered through key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and semi-structured, one-on-one interviews with pregnant and parenting youth from Palawan, Philippines. Qualitative analysis provided insights on Filipino adolescents’ perceptions and lived experiences of romantic and sexual relationships, pregnancy, and parenthood. Findings from this study are intended to contribute to the evidence base for the design and implementation of sexual and reproductive health programmes and policy for young people in the Philippines and other countries.

Funders/Scholarships

Nossal Global Health Scholars’ Programme
Population Health Investing in Research Students’ Training (PHIRST) Scholarship (2018)
Riady Scholarship (2018)