Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111554

Jennifer Lynn Catino, MPH¹, Lisa A. Goldman, MPH², and Dana Watnick, MPH¹. (1) Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, Population Council, Panzacola No. 62, Interior 1, Colonia Villa Coyoacan, Mexico City, 04000, Mexico, 52 55 5999 8656, jcatino@popcouncil.org.mx, (2) Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Berkeley, 140 Warren Hall #7360, Berkeley, CA 94720

The Population Council provided technical support to a mass media campaign called “Grita tus sentimientos sexuales” to promote youth sexual health and rights in Latin America in collaboration with Music Television (MTV). The campaign consisted of the development and broadcasting of public service announcements (PSAs) on sexuality issues; content development for a campaign webpage nested within the MTV/Latin America website; and development and distribution of print and electronic materials in the form of promotional postcards (available at clubs, bars and other public venues) and announcements posted on electronic billboards in Mexico City. Twelve original PSAs were developed and run on MTV cable television in Latin America. Approximately 300 PSAs were shown, there were over 90,000 hits on the website and 40,000 on-line sexuality surveys completed during the first three months. Survey results showed that more males (61%) than females (39%) responded initially, but the sex gap closed after the first few months (53% female and 47% male). Fifty four percent of respondents were between the ages of 18-25. Nearly the same number of respondents said that they feel comfortable talking about sex with their parents (35%) as those who said that they cannot (33%). Twenty five percent said that being drunk or high did not impede their ability to negotiate safe sex. Condoms were declared the most common form of contraception (85%), followed distantly by pills (22%). Public-private partnerships to benefit public health present advantages and challenges.

Learning Objectives:

• Define elements of mass media campaign with MTV in Latin America;
• Identify knowledge and practice gaps related to youth sexual and reproductive health;
• Understand opportunities and challenges of public-private partnerships to benefit public health

Keywords: Adolescents, International, Sexuality

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation