The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69025

Osmar Matsui Santana, MD, MPH¹, Laura Flores Gonzalez, MD, MSexEd¹, and Matilde Corrales Carvajal, MD, MSexEd². (1) Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Administradores 5553, Arcos de Guadalupe, Zapopan, Jalisco, 44140, Mexico, (2) Master´s Program in Human Sexuality Education, Centro de Educación y Atención a la Salud y la Sexualidad (CEASS) A.C., Montenegro 2361, Guadalajara, Jalisco, 45030, Mexico

There is a current controversy between parents and teachers versus reproductive and sexual health promoters about when and how to apply sex educational interventions for youths. Mexican educational authorities started to include more sexual and reproductive issues in official textbooks for the 1998 cohort in fifth grade (10 – 11 years old).

The importance of this study is to have a baseline data of sexual and reproductive cognitive, emotional and behavioral attitudes of young people to allow in the near future an evaluation of the impact that this intervention could have.

An anonymous and self-administered questionnaire on sexuality and lifestyles was applied to 3000 randomly selected students of 13 public university campus of Jalisco, Mexico. We present here results about frequency and variables associated to their first coitus, such as age, motivation, partner, use of pregnancy and STD protection measures and their self-perception of risk.

Contrary of societal beliefs, half of adolescents have had coital experiences with little gender difference. Mean age of first coitus was around 16 yo. Different motives drive female and male adolescents, and only one third used a protection method for STD/pregnancy, for that intercourse; but this amount significantly decreases afterwards.

Even most women and men referred age at first coitus was appropriate, an important segment said they rather had waited longer.

Presentation will emphasise on gender differences in planning and prevention attitudes and behaviors toward sexuality, pregnancy and STD's.

Learning Objectives:

• The participant of this session will be able to:
• Identify contraceptive use at first sexual intercourse among mexican youths.
• Describe Mexican cultural values and variables associated to first coitus.

Keywords: Sexual Risk Behavior, Adoption

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.