Sources of information on sex and antecedents of early sexual initiation among urban Latino youth

Introduction: Latino youth in the US have higher rates of earlier sexual initiation compared to white peers, placing them at increased risk for negative health, academic, and social outcomes. Ensuring that youth receive accurate information about sex is critical for promoting healthy decision making. This study documents the relationships between sources of information on sex and physical development and precursors to early sexual activity in a large sample of Latino youth. Methods: Surveys were conducted with 2620 sixth graders from 27 schools serving predominantly Hispanic students in urban cities in the US. Multivariate analyses examined the association between sources of information about sex and antecedents of early sexual initiation. Results: Most respondents reported that they would ask parents and other relatives questions about sex—85% of girls and 75% percent of boys. In contrast, about half girls and 40% of boys reported that they would ask their peers these questions. Multivariate analyses show a significant gender difference in getting information from parents or other relatives: girls who get information from these sources are less likely to engage in sexual risk-taking behaviors (OR= 0.40, p<.001), while association for boys is not significant. In contrast, youth have a higher likelihood of involvement in sexual risk-taking behavior if they get information from peers (OR: 2.57, p<.001) or the media (1.53, p<0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of parent-child communication about sex. Encouraging parents and other responsible adults to talk to their teens, especially girls, about sex can lead to positive health outcomes.