Abstract

MENKES, Catherine  and  SUAREZ, Leticia. Sexualidad y embarazo adolescente en México. Pap. poblac [online]. 2003, vol.9, n.35, pp.233-262. ISSN 2448-7147.

The subject of teenage pregnancy has become one of the key issues of population politics in Mexico; the size of the adolescent population, its growth and reproduction rate and the health risks posed to young mothers and their children, amongst other themes, have been discussed from different perspectives. This is all undoubtedly true; however, much research and policymaking aimed at improving teenager's sexual health forgets that adolescent motherhood responds to an economic, social and cultural context. This association is shown in this study through the use of demographic surveys at a national level. In the same way, less-educated women are shown to have less knowledge of contraceptive methods and use them less frequently, they generally initiate their sex lives at a younger age and are less well-prepared to do so, which makes these adolescents more vulnerable to unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Gender inequity and other sociocultural aspects related to conditions of inequality for women are aggravated in a context of poverty and lack of opportunities.

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