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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Dorina Vereau, MPH, J. Fishel, and M. Martin. Pathfinder International, 9 Galen Street, Suite 217, Watertown, MA 02472, 617-924-7200, ghainsworth@pathfind.org
Despite the Peruvian government's and NGOs' efforts to carry out programs that educate the adolescent population in the prevention of unwanted pregnancies, cases of adolescent pregnancy are on the rise. This increase in adolescent pregnancy is becoming a public health problem because of the consequences it has on the overall development of the country.
At the request of the Ministry of Education (MINED), Pathfinder International carried out a nation-wide survey in 1998-99. The survey assessed the attitudes and sexual behavior of almost 7,000 high school students. The results revealed that 22% of the students between 9th and 11th grades had been sexually active at some point in their lives. Out of that group, 45% reported being sexually active at the time. To determine the factors associated with adolescents' sexual behavior, the same data was analyzed using the bi-variate statistical method. The aim was to correlate antecedents (family communication, self-esteem, friends' sexual behavior) with variables of adolescent sexual practice (being sexually active, using birth control methods).
This paper presents the results of this correlation. The group most at risk of suffering from adverse RH consequences are adolescents who do not live with their parents, who have sexually active friends, and adolescent females with low self-esteem. Such information confirms the theory that protective factors influence adolescents' behavior.
Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to
Keywords: Adolescents, International, Sexual Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.