Attitudes to adolescent pregnancy among families in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador: insights from a longitudinal study

Cult Health Sex. 2022 Oct 30:1-15. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2022.2137588. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTOver the past few decades growing attention has focused on the perceived challenge of adolescent pregnancy and the need for girls to make 'smart choices'. This has generated considerable debate particularly because of the failure of many programmes and interventions to consider the structural constraints faced by young women in accessing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Yet limited attention has been given to the views and experiences of girls' parents and caregivers, many of whom were often adolescent parents themselves. We use data from the Real Choices, Real Lives longitudinal study conducted by Plan International to consider how the experiences of girls' families shape their attitudes to teenage pregnancy in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador. Many families believe girls need to practise abstinence and avoid men and boys but given the lack of provision for SRHR faced by young women this response is not unexpected.PMID:36309823 | DOI:10.1080/13691058.2022.2137588
Source: Culture, Health and Sexuality - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Source Type: research