Protective factors against unplanned teen pregnancies in the Latino population in Little Rock, Arkansas

The purpose of this study was to collect the data necessary to identify the “protective factors”, or the individual or community characteristics, conditions, or behaviors that have helped to reduce the teen birth rate in the Latino community in Arkansas. The methodology used was a survey applied to 278 Latino respondents in the Little Rock area. Results indicate several statistically significant protective factors against unplanned pregnancies, for example Latino family structure and encouragement to complete a higher level of education. The development of recommendations focused on a community-based participatory research approach were shared, along with the research findings, with organizations and academic institutions such as UAMS, The Woman’s Foundation of Arkansas, The Arkansas Department of Health, The Clinton School of Public Service and The Mexican Consulate in Little Rock.  Providing the research results to these institutions help to increase awareness regarding the Latino community’s capacity to elude risks and stimulate social and cultural competence to avoid teen pregnancies. Even when some risk factors are still present in the surveyed Latino population, the protective factors approach creates the opportunity to implement community-based participatory strategies that promote the protective factors against unplanned pregnancies in vulnerable communities.