Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in El Salvador

Cortez, Rafael; Revuelta, Karin-Annabela; Guirola, Yolanda

Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in El Salvador

Autores

Cortez, Rafael

Revuelta, Karin-Annabela

Guirola, Yolanda

Editor

World Bank, Washington, DC

Descripción

The aim of the study is to understand the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) behavior and determinants among adolescents in El Salvador using data from a survey of 1,258 adolescents’ aged 10-19 and 12 interviews with representatives from the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Education (MOE), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and United Nation (UN) agencies. The study found that adolescents were not educated enough on their sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), and have limited use of and access to contraceptives. Alcohol and violence were found to be associated with risky sexual behavior, requiring a multisectoral response from the government and civil society. Adolescents need to receive earlier and more accurate information on their SRHR; and this information should be disseminated in a way that empowers adolescents to make responsible decisions about their sexual reproductive health. The MOE can play a vital role in informing adolescents in this area, and adjust these programs when necessary. Further, the role of parents is critical, as the study found that adolescents are not receiving adequate and enough SRHR information from their parents. In addition, the MOH needs to offer adolescent-friendly health services, which includes trained health personnel. Although adolescents stated that the maternal and child health programs offered were satisfactory and the government has made an effort at educating adolescents on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), both the promotion of contraceptive methods and monitoring adolescent SRHR remain as key challenges to be addressed by multisectoral interventions.

Palabras clave

PREGNANT ADOLESCENTS, USE OF CONTRACEPTION, SEX EDUCATION, CHILD HEALTH, ADOLESCENT DEATHS, RISKS, SOCIAL NORMS, SEXUALLY ACTIVE, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, SEX WORKERS, EARLY PREGNANCY, MATERNAL MORBIDITY, CONTRACEPTION, INFORMED CONSENT, PEOPLE, PEER EDUCATION, CONTRACEPTIVE KNOWLEDGE, UNSAFE ABORTIONS, KIDNEY DISEASES, OLDER ADOLESCENTS, BISEXUAL, SEXUAL PARTNERS, HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS, PREVENTION, LAWS, SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR, INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSMISSION, MORBIDITY, SYPHILIS, SUICIDE, HEALTH EDUCATION, LATER ADOLESCENCE, SEXUAL HEALTH, SOCIAL WORK, SERVICES, HEALTH CARE, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS, INTIMATE PARTNER, PUBERTY, MULTIPLE SEXUAL PARTNERS, HEALTH, DEPRESSION, HOLISTIC APPROACH, CRIME, ALCOHOL, FIRST PREGNANCY, PUBLIC HEALTH, FIRST SEXUAL ENCOUNTER, BIRTHS TO ADOLESCENTS, MATERNAL MORTALITY, MACHISMO, KNOWLEDGE, DISABILITIES, SEXUALLY ACTIVE FEMALES, HOMOSEXUALS, PREGNANT ADOLESCENT, ACCESS TO HEALTH INFORMATION, PREGNANCIES, ABORTIONS, PILL, PREMARITAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY, ADOLESCENT-FRIENDLY HEALTH SERVICES, BOYS, MENTAL ILLNESS, SEXUALITY, AGING, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION, NURSES, ADOLESCENT MOTHERS, UNMARRIED ADOLESCENTS, STIS, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, VIOLENCE, GENDER NORMS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME, MORTALITY RATE, SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, FIRST SEX, BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS, ADOLESCENT FERTILITY, INTERVIEW, MORTALITY, ADOLESCENT BOYS, SOCIAL SUPPORT, HEALTH PROMOTION, RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ADULTHOOD, CHILDBIRTH, ILLEGAL ABORTIONS, SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS, SEXUAL ABUSE, WORKERS, FEMALE ADOLESCENTS, IUDS, CONTRACEPTIVES, ADOLESCENCE, AGED, INFLUENZA, SOCIAL SERVICES, POPULATION STUDIES, AVERAGE AGE, ADOLESCENT GIRLS, SCHOOLS, IMMUNODEFICIENCY, AGE, BIRTHS, FEMALE BEHAVIOUR, HEALTH OUTCOMES, SEXUAL ACTIVITY, ALCOHOLICS, HEPATITIS B, VICTIMS, FEMALE CONDOMS, FAMILY PLANNING, ADOLESCENT FEMALES, YOUTH, DECISION MAKING, NATIONAL FAMILY HEALTH SURVEY, NUTRITION, ADOLESCENTS, ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY, MASCULINITY, CONTRACEPTIVE USE, SEXUAL ENCOUNTER, INTERNET, RISK FACTORS, SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, DEATH AMONG ADOLESCENTS, SEX, ROLE IN SOCIETY, WEIGHT, HUMAN RIGHTS, PREGNANT WOMEN, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, HOMOSEXUALITY, CHILDREN, UNMARRIED WOMEN, MORNING AFTER PILL, MATERNAL DEATHS, HEALTH FOR ALL, CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS, FRIENDLY HEALTH SERVICES, ADOLESCENT, YOUNG WOMEN, SEXUAL BEHAVIOURS, INFECTIONS, YOUNG PEOPLE, SEXUALLY ACTIVE ADOLESCENTS, ONSET OF PUBERTY, MARITAL STATUS, GIRLS, BEHAVIOURS, GONORRHEA, MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE, SIBLINGS, FAMILIES, CHILD HEALTH SERVICES, SEXUAL VIOLENCE, MARRIED ADOLESCENTS, PREGNANCY OUTCOMES, AIDS, ADOLESCENT PREGNANCIES, HEALTH SERVICES, MENTAL, PREGNANCY, ABORTION, ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, CONDOMS, ADOLESCENT GIRL