Keywords
human sexuality
reproductive health
special populations
How to Cite
Abstract
ABSTRACT Background: US Latino adolescents have higher teenage birthrates and higher probabilities for early sexual debut compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Understanding their reasons for delaying or initiating first-time vaginal intercourse is important in designing culturally-relevant health promotion programs. Methods: Using qualitative methods, we analyzed 21 semi-structured interviews with US Latino adolescents regarding their sexual debuts. Results: Seven had sexually debuted, acknowledging sexual feelings of desire, curiosity and pleasure for their romantic partner. The remaining 14 had not debuted citing reasons of self-interest reasons and external prohibitive factors. Eight of the 14 also attributed their status to not being in a romantic relationship. Discussion: Our findings suggest several areas for increased discussion including how romantic relationships and Latino cultural values influence sexual initiation and the use of contraception. These findings may enhance health promotion programs by identifying critical elements that may resonate with US Latino adolescent socio-cultural values and sexual development. Resumen Antecedentes: Los adolescentes latinos de Estados Unidos presentan tasas de natalidad más altas y mayores probabilidades de iniciación sexual temprana en comparación con adolescentes de otros grupos raciales/étnicos. Entender las razones de los jóvenes latinos para retrasar o iniciar el coito vaginal primera vez es importante en el diseño de programas de promoción de salud culturalmente relevantes. Métodos: En el presente estudio cualitativo se realizaron 21 entrevistas semiestructuradas con adolescentes latinos sobre las razones para iniciarse o abstenerse de practicar el coito vaginal por primera vez. Resultados: Siete de los participantes habían debutado sexualmente y 14 se habían abstenido de hacerlo. Quienes se habían iniciado reconocieron haberlo hecho por curiosidad, deseo sexual y por placer pero admitieron haberse iniciado sexualmente en el contexto de una relación romántica con su pareja. Quienes se habían abstenido reportaron razones personales (no sentirse preparados, esperar hasta el matrimonio, temor de adquirir una infección sexualmente transmisible o de quedar embarazada) y también citaron fuentes externas de prohibición (padres y religión). Ocho de los 14 adolescentes también atribuyeron el haberse abstenido al no haber establecido una relación romántica todavía. Discusión: El análisis de los resultados sugiere que los adolescentes latinos de los Estados Unidos con características similares a la muestra estudiada tienen los conocimientos y están dispuestos a tomar decisiones razonadas sobre su iniciación sexual.This journal is registered under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License. Thus, this work may be reproduced, distributed, and publicly shared in digital format, as long as the names of the authors and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana are acknowledged. Others are allowed to quote, adapt, transform, auto-archive, republish, and create based on this material, for any purpose (even commercial ones), provided the authorship is duly acknowledged, a link to the original work is provided, and it is specified if changes have been made. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana does not hold the rights of published works and the authors are solely responsible for the contents of their works; they keep the moral, intellectual, privacy, and publicity rights. Approving the intervention of the work (review, copy-editing, translation, layout) and the following outreach, are granted through an use license and not through an assignment of rights. This means the journal and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana cannot be held responsible for any ethical malpractice by the authors. As a consequence of the protection granted by the use license, the journal is not required to publish recantations or modify information already published, unless the errata stems from the editorial management process. Publishing contents in this journal does not generate royalties for contributors.