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- Adolescent pregnancy in the Hispanic community warrants attention
- both because it has been underresearched and because its consequences
- may be particularly dramatic. In addition to economic disadvantage,
- Hispanic adolescents in the United States must contend with
- conflicting messages from two cultures regarding standards of
- sexuality, timing of childbearing, and appropriate roles for women.
- While teenagers of all ethnic groups experience some contradictions
- between family and peer-group attitudes toward these issues, the
- contrasts are often especially pronounced for Hispanic girls,
- especially if they or their parents have been raised abroad. This
- report presents an overview of social, economic, and educational
- conditions among Hispanic Americans and examines the following factors
- relating to adolescent motherhood: (1) sexual activity; (2) pregnancy
- and abortion; (3) childbearing; (4) birth control; and (5) causes. The
- report urges that culturally sensitive preventive programs be designed
- for Hispanic youth and suggests the following steps: (1) identify the
- special local needs of Hispanic youth; (2) keep young Hispanics in
- school and help them work toward realistic educational and
- occupational goals; (3) improve parent-child communication on
- sex-related topics; and (4) improve family planning services and
- outreach to Hispanic youth. Statistical data is presented in 11 tables
- and graphs. A list of 52 reference notes is appended. (AF)
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