Hispanic adolescent conception and contraception profiles. A comparison

Exploring Contraceptive Pill Taking among Hispanic Women in the United States

Data from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth have previously shown greater risk of inconsistent contraceptive pill use among Hispanicwomen. We used the same data to test a culturally based model of pill use among the subsample of Hispanicwomen. Hierarchical logit analyses revealed that primary use of Spanish, negative attitudes aboutwomen in theworkplace, two or more recent sex partners, and recent pill adoption were factors that increased the odds of inconsistent use. Living alone or with non-kin was associated with more consistent use, as were showing preference for a stay-at-home model of motherhood, frequent church attendance, and frequent sexual intercourse. Our findings suggest that the strong effects of behavioral variables (e.g., duration of pill use, number of sex partners) are mediated by cultural indicators (e.g., primary use of Spanish, attitudes about sex roles). The extent to which programs address important cultural dimensions of health behaviors could enhance effectiveness.

A longitudinal study of maternal messages about dating and sexuality and their influence on Latino adolescents

PURPOSE

To learn more about the nature of mother-adolescent discussions about sexuality and their influence on adolescents' behaviors and attitudes in Latino families.

METHODS

Fifty-five Latino mothers and their midadolescent children (35 girls, 20 boys, mean age 13 years) were observed talking about dating and sexuality. The videotaped conversations were coded for the prevalence of five maternal message types: beliefs and values, advice, cautionary messages, comments about the adolescents' everyday experiences, and maternal self-disclosure about her own dating and sexuality experiences. A structural equation model was used to examined how time spent on the various message types was related to three adolescent-related outcomes collected about 1 year later: sexual behavior, attitudes toward premarital sex, and reports of openness in the mother-child relationship.

RESULTS

Latino mothers focused the conversation on their personal beliefs and values about dating and sexuality. Discussions about beliefs and values were accompanied by more parental advice and cautionary messages. More maternal self-disclosure about personal dating and sexuality experiences was related to the adolescents' reporting a better functioning relationship with their mothers and having more conservative attitudes toward premarital sex. Sexuality communication was both positively and negatively related to adolescent sexual behavior, but the messages were not the same.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal communication in Latino families influences adolescents' behaviors and attitudes toward sex and adolescents' perceptions of openness in the mother-child relationship. Observational methods are useful for studying the complexity of the communication process and for studying participants from ethnic minority populations who may be unfamiliar with or uncomfortable filling out questionnaires.

Adolescents' pregnancy intentions: relations to life situations and caretaking behaviors prenatally and 2 years postpartum

PURPOSE

This study explores if and how adolescents' pregnancy intentions relate to life situations and health-related behaviors prenatally and up to 2 years postpartum.

METHODS

Adolescent girls who reported that they had "wanted a baby" (n = 75) as their reason for pregnancy were compared with those who reported that the pregnancy "just happened" (n = 79) at four separate time periods: prenatally, at 6 and 24 months postpartum, and at 18 months postpartum for teens who became pregnant again subsequent to the study pregnancy.

RESULTS

Those who stated that they wanted a baby were more likely to be Hispanic, married, and out of school before becoming pregnant. They were less likely to receive welfare as their primary means of support and to have run away from home in the past than teens who stated that their pregnancy just happened. Self-reported reason for pregnancy was unrelated to repeat pregnancy by 18 months postpartum, but those who had wanted the study baby were less likely to undergo elective termination of a subsequent pregnancy and less likely to become pregnant by a different partner. The groups diverged at 24 months postpartum when those who wanted a baby were more likely to be married to the father of the baby, be financially supported by him, receive child care assistance from him, and have attempted or succeeded at breastfeeding the study child.

CONCLUSION

Self-reported reason for pregnancy reveals many important characteristics of pregnant adolescents both at the time of presentation and up to 2 years postpartum. Young women in this study who reported intentional pregnancy seem to fare better with regard to their financial status and their relationship with the father of the baby.

Cultural influences on the sexual attitudes, beliefs, and norms of young Latina adolescents

PURPOSE

To describe the influence of cultural values famillism, gender-role expectations, and religion on sexual attitudes, beliefs, and norms of young Latina adolescents.

DESIGN

Ethnography, focus group interviews.

SETTING

Community-based agencies in two urban cities.

PARTICIPANTS

Puerto Rican and Mexican-American adolescents (10-15 years) and their mothers.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Ethnographic interview guide.

RESULTS

The importance of family and the role of the extended network, dimensions of famillism, were evident in such patterns as respect for self and family, protection of self, child, and family. The protectiveness of families toward girls, gender differences in rules, value of virginity, and the importance of having a family, were findings consistent with Latino gender roles. However, there were also some important deviations from these roles. For example, virginity, although important, was not associated with religious doctrine of practice. The necessity of preventing pregnancy was also considered important.

CONCLUSION

Latino cultural values need to be incorporated in primary and secondary prevention efforts to decrease the risk associated with early and unprotected sexual activity.

Acculturation, perceived social support, and self-esteem in primigravida Puerto Rican teenagers

The purpose of this study was to explore acculturation, perceived social support, and self-esteem in 63 primigravida adolescents of Puerto Rican background living in the mainland United States. Although more teenagers of Puerto Rican background become pregnant than do those of all other Hispanic mainland groups, few studies have viewed pregnancy within this subculture. Mainland acculturation was not related to either perceived social support or self-esteem among the study sample. The study elucidates the importance of recognizing the dual cultural influence on mainland-dwelling adolescents of Puerto Rican background. The study findings suggest that exploration be continued beyond acculturation, as measured in this study, to understand the differences in adolescent pregnancy rates among the specific cultures of the Hispanic megaculture of the United States.

Contraceptive methods: do Hispanic adolescents and their family planning care providers think about contraceptive methods the same way?

This article describes how a family planning clinic-based program to prevent repeat pregnancy among Hispanic adolescents in Los Angeles used qualitative research to understand client contraceptive behavior. Background information on Hispanic adolescent reproductive patterns and an overview of paths to motherhood among teen clients are provided to contextualize the results. Participants sorted contraceptive methods on perceived similarities and ranked them on effectiveness, safety, and use-preference. Multidimensional scaling was used to identify and compare conceptual models. Both providers and teens grouped methods by effectiveness and mode of action, but acceptability and ease of method use were also important for teens. Providers found participation a worthwhile educational experience that facilitated self-reflection about their own biases and better understanding of their clients' needs. This method could be applied in many clinical settings where education and counseling are important in treatment and where patients and providers are likely to have different conceptual models regarding therapy.

U.S.- and Mexico-born Hispanic teen mothers: a descriptive study of factors that relate to postpartum compliance

This study examinedfactors that related to postpartum compliance in a group of U.S.-and Mexico-born Hispanic teens who delivered at a county hospital in Houston, Texas. Only 50 (17.3%) of the combined group returnedfor their scheduled postpartum visit. Returning teens across groups were more likely to have no prenatal care, have a preterm or expired infant, report no educational plan, but have a support system. When controlling for marital status, Mexico-born married teens were the most likely to return for postpartum visits. Medical services need to focus on cultural norms andfamily support systems to increase use of health services. These factors appear to be consistent across both groups of Hispanic teens although married teens from Mexico appear to be more compliant to health care.