![[ Visit Client Website ]](images/banner.gif)
Learning Objective 1: describe at least one attitude of Hispanic teen females regarding sex, contraception, adolescent pregnancy and/or parenthood.
Learning Objective 2: describe at least one attitude of adult Hispanics regarding teen sexuality and reproduction.
Background: Teen pregnancy in Hispanic youth is a poorly understood phenomenon, thought to have numerous overlapping cultural influences. Despite the fact the Hispanics have had the highest teen pregnancy rates in the U.S. since 1995 and have pregnancy rates that have declined much more slowly when compared to every other ethnicity, there is limited literature pertaining to Hispanic youth whose families are long-term residence of the U.S. and the cultural factors that influence the decision-making processes and sexual behaviors of this population.
Methods: An ethnographic design, aimed at collecting pertinent data in the respondent’s own words and validated through observations, allows for an understanding of the cultural influences on reproductive health of these adolescents. Data is collected using interviews with approximately 10 adolescent mothers (15-17 years), 10 adults who work with adolescent mothers, and participant observation. Data is analyzed inductively through the process of Immersion and Crystallization, resulting in themes and sub-themes that capture the essence of the culture and which are contextualized with the spoken and observed experiences of those studied.
Implications: The results of this study will aid in increasing the knowledge base related to Hispanic youth and the many cultural factors affecting their sexual decisions and behaviors.