Young Latinas and abortion: the role of cultural factors, reproductive behavior, and alternative roles to motherhood

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.

Beyond the discourse of reproductive choice: narratives of pregnancy resolution among Latina/o teenage parents

Despite the fact that the US teenage birth rate has declined dramatically in recent years, teen births among Latinas are higher than any other racial/ethnic group. Most studies focus on the causes and consequences of early motherhood among Latina teenagers, neglecting other important dimensions of the issue. This study examines how Latina/o teenage parents living in California narrate their experiences with unintended pregnancy resolution. Qualitative analysis reveals three central themes. First, participants expressed shock upon learning they or their partner was pregnant, followed by acceptance about their impending parenthood. Second, participants' views of abortion and adoption largely foreclosed these options as pathways by which to resolve their unintended pregnancies. Third, participants recounted numerous stories of the messages they received from parents, other family members and male partners that were frequently directive regarding how to resolve their pregnancies. These findings have implications for young people's reproductive health and rights, and for reproductive justice more broadly.

Experiencias de mujeres mexicanas migrantes indocumentadas en California, Estados Unidos, en su acceso a los servicios de salud sexual y reproductiva: estudio de caso

El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la experiencia de mujeres mexicanas migrantes en California, Estados Unidos, en torno a la utilización de los servicios formales de salud para resolver problemas relacionados con su salud sexual y reproductiva. El diseño fue cualitativo, con enfoque teórico metodológico de antropología interpretativa. Las técnicas utilizadas fueron historias de vida con mujeres usuarias de los servicios de salud en California y entrevistas breves con informantes clave. Se encontraron tres tipos de barreras principales para el acceso al sistema de salud: condición migratoria, idioma y género. Los tiempos de espera, actitudes discriminatorias y costo del servicio se expresaron como características que más incomodaron a las migrantes. La percepción de calidad de atención estuvo relacionada con la condición de ilegalidad migratoria. La red de apoyo tanto en México, como en California, colabora en la resolución de enfermedades. Se debe incorporar la perspectiva intercultural en los servicios.

Neighborhood contexts experienced by young Mexican-American women: enhancing our understanding of risk for early childbearing

Young Mexican-American women are disproportionately affected by teen pregnancy and early childbearing. While many of the studies that have investigated this population's high risk for early childbearing have focused predominantly on micro-level factors, a growing body of research has demonstrated the importance of neighborhood-level factors in shaping risk for this outcome. In order to elucidate the role of neighborhood context with regards to early childbearing among adolescent Mexican-American women, it is important to understand what these young women consider to be their neighborhood context and how they experience these contexts. This study utilized a mixed-methods design incorporating participatory photography, photo-elicitation, and focus groups in order to gain a more nuanced understanding of how neighborhood context is conceptualized and experienced by Mexican-American young women, and how these experiences may influence risk for early childbearing. Major findings include: (1) participants view the blocks on which they live as their neighborhood, but their exposure to neighborhood context extends beyond these blocks and includes the transient spaces they move through daily; and (2) within their neighborhood contexts, participants are influenced by experiences of discrimination and the presence of gangs and violence. These findings point to the importance of neighborhood-level factors in the lives of adolescent Mexican-American women, and may be used to inform future studies looking at the role of neighborhood context in shaping risk for early childbearing among this population.

Sociocultural and religious influences on the normative contraceptive practices of Latino women in the United States

Presumably, Latino women engage in little family planning because of religious or cultural objections to contraception. The purpose of this study was to examine how acculturation, religion and various demographic factors were related to the family-planning behaviors of Latino women in the United States. Data were collected on 234 pregnant women (aged 18-40 years), on their family size, how actively they planned their current pregnancy, and how consistently they used contraception in the past. Through path analysis, we found that Spanish-speaking women were more consistent contraceptive users than their English-speaking counterparts, suggesting that acculturation negatively impacts contraceptive use. However, Spanish-speaking women with longer US residency were more likely to be consistent contraceptive users than Spanish-speaking women who had lived in the United States for briefer periods, suggesting a positive effect of acculturation. Religiosity and years of education were associated with family size, but not contraceptive use. Women who were married and had fewer children were more likely to plan their current pregnancy, indicating that Latino women take family size and marital status into consideration when actively deciding to become pregnant.