53 percent of Latinas are pregnant by their 20th birthday, survey finds

[0ni0n]

(CNN) -- She had many plans for the future: to go to college, start a career, meet the man of her dreams, raise a family -- when the time was right.

It was all cut off by an unexpected pregnancy. The baby became her life, consuming her energy and forcing her dreams to the back burner of her life.

She is 19 or younger and Latina, and has had her first baby.
It's not what she wanted. Nor did her parents, who are the greatest influence on her decisions about sex, according to a wide-ranging survey released Tuesday by experts on the Hispanic community in the United States.

The survey also found that 84 percent of Latino teens and 91 percent of Latino parents believe that graduating from college or university or having a promising career is the most important goal for a teen's future.

Somewhere along the way, the aspirations fail to match up to reality. The survey attempts to examine some of the reasons for the disparity and why Latinas now have the highest teen birth rate among all ethnic and racial groups in the United States.

"There's a big disconnect between pregnancy rates and what Latina families want and value," said Ruthie Flores, senior manager of the National Campaign's Latino Initiative.

According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 53 percent of Latinas get pregnant in their teens, about twice the national average.

After a period of decline, the birth rate for U.S. teenagers 15 to 19 years rose in 2007 by about 1 percent, to 42.5 births per 1,000, according to preliminary data in a March 2009 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.

In 2007, the birth rate among non-Hispanic whites ages 15 to 19 was 27.2 per 1,000, and 64.3 per 1,000 for non-Hispanic black teens in the same age range. The teen birth rate among Hispanic teens ages 15 to 19 was 81.7 per 1,000.

Of the 759 Latino teens surveyed, 49 percent said their parents most influenced their decisions about sex, compared with 14 percent who cited friends. Three percent cited religious leaders, 2 percent teachers and 2 percent the media.

Three-quarters of Latino teens said their parents have talked to them about sex and relationships, but only half said their parents discussed contraception.

The survey also found that:
• 74 percent of Latino teens believe that parents send one message about sex to their sons and a different message altogether to their daughters, possibly related to the Latino value of machismo.

• Latino teens believe that the most common reason teens do not use contraception is that they are afraid their parents might find out.

• 72 percent of sexually experienced teens say they wish they had waited.

• 34 percent of Latino teens believe that being a teen parent would prevent them from reaching their goals, but 47 percent say being a teen parent would simply delay them from reaching their goals.

• 76 percent said it is important to be married before starting a family.
Flores said it is crucial to understand the beliefs and attitudes that influence teen behavior in order to reduce the high rates of Hispanic teen pregnancy. The survey, co-sponsored by the Hispanic advocacy group National Council of La Raza, was an attempt to to do just that.
She said that despite a rich culture and the growing influence of Hispanics in America, the Latino community disproportionately suffers from troubling social indicators.

Consider that fewer than six in 10 Latino adults in the United States have a high school diploma. Latino teens are more likely to drop out than their non-Hispanic counterparts, and of all the children living in poverty, 30 percent are Latino.

It's an impact that is sure to be noticed. The nation's 45 million Latinos constitute the largest minority group in the United States with a growth rate twice that of the general population.

That means by 2025, one-quarter of all American teens will be Latinos.

[Kohan]

I like how the article talks about it like it's some huge mystery, but doesn't even mention abortion a single time.

HMMM I WONDER WHY ALL THESE UNWANTED BABIES ARE JUST POPPING OUT OF THESE GIRLS THERE TRULY IS NO SOLUTION WHAT A DILEMMA

[Mizango]

lolTexico.

[archibaldcrane]

I like how the article talks about it like it's some huge mystery, but doesn't even mention abortion a single time.

HMMM I WONDER WHY ALL THESE UNWANTED BABIES ARE JUST POPPING OUT OF THESE GIRLS THERE TRULY IS NO SOLUTION WHAT A DILEMMA

The lack of birth control is influenced, in latinas, by religion (specifically Catholicism) in this ethnic group probably more than any other. If they can't even get on the pill or use a condom because of the fear of being smote by god (via their parents) - abortion is going to be even more "out there".

It is surprising to me a bit though, that even with the emphasis on family in latino culture, that there would be an even larger problem with teenage pregnancy than in blacks.

These kids have parents who actually have the ability to influence them. It sucks that they aren't sending the proper messages.

Also machismo is one of the most harmful things to a healthy sexual attitude (on both sides) I can think of.

[Royal]

Probably all of them are from my state too.

[Kohan]

The lack of birth control is influenced, in latinas, by religion (specifically Catholicism) in this ethnic group probably more than any other. If they can't even get on the pill or use a condom because of the fear of being smote by god (via their parents) - abortion is going to be even more "out there".

Though this is important to specify, I was aware of it; I was mainly criticizing the way the article was written. Not mentioning abortion whatsoever, even if to dismiss it as a non-option among particularly religious teens, makes me wonder if the writer is biased against the practice. Textually, it's lacking. They're acting as if this is impossible to understand, and one of the solutions isn't so much as touched on? It's glaringly obvious and makes for a sloppy work.

[Zilong]

If religion is the reason of not using contraception, isn't the act of fornication before marriage a fucking sin on itself?

lolreligion i guess.

[Neosutra]

And Im not paying a scent of child support until I get the blood test.

[Ksandra]

If religion is the reason of not using contraception, isn't the act of fornication before marriage a fucking sin on itself?

lolreligion i guess.

^ not so much a lolreligion, but more along the lines of lolselectivebeliefs. People choose what they want to follow in the religion but tend to ignore the parts that'll ruin their "fun"

[BadKarma]

And Im not paying a scent of child support until I get the blood test.

Quiet Edward

[Rockstaru]

^ not so much a lolreligion, but more along the lines of lolselectivebeliefs. People choose what they want to follow in the religion but tend to ignore the parts that'll ruin their "fun"

Won't having a kid ruin your fun pretty damn well too? It's more "lol people are universally retarded when it comes to sex." A bit wordier, but more accurate.

[Heian]

^ not so much a lolreligion, but more along the lines of lolselectivebeliefs. People choose what they want to follow in the religion but tend to ignore the parts that'll ruin their "fun"

Bingo.

[Sol-Blackguy]

Probably all of them are from my state too.

Never seen VA huh?

[Kuya]

The lack of birth control is influenced, in latinas, by religion (specifically Catholicism) in this ethnic group probably more than any other. If they can't even get on the pill or use a condom because of the fear of being smote by god (via their parents) - abortion is going to be even more "out there".

It is surprising to me a bit though, that even with the emphasis on family in latino culture, that there would be an even larger problem with teenage pregnancy than in blacks.

These kids have parents who actually have the ability to influence them. It sucks that they aren't sending the proper messages.

Also machismo is one of the most harmful things to a healthy sexual attitude (on both sides) I can think of.

From my experience, catholics tend to be more flexible, or how should i say, ignore the rules. So while the Pope my rage about the pill and condoms all the time, the actual catholics seemingly don't give a shit.

[0ni0n]

From my experience, catholics tend to be more flexible, or how should i say, ignore the rules. So while the Pope my rage about the pill and condoms all the time, the actual catholics seemingly don't give a shit.

Then they would be protestants lol

[Kuya]

Do protestants only staunchly oppose abortion? I always got the idea protestants were more conservative.

[archibaldcrane]

From my experience, catholics tend to be more flexible, or how should i say, ignore the rules. So while the Pope my rage about the pill and condoms all the time, the actual catholics seemingly don't give a shit.

Sure but of all the culture-defining religions, they tend to give more of a shit, I guess was my point. Machismo in the culture makes it even harder - girls are afraid of trying to get birth control because of their stupid parents, and the men are taught that "my cock is glorious I'm not wrapping it up I'm a man and you should want it!"

It's a perfect storm of teen preggo.

[Tokitoki]

Never seen VA huh?

There were 3 girls in my HS that got pregnant that I know of. Onlyone was Latina. The other two were sisters.

[Meresgi]

• 34 percent of Latino teens believe that being a teen parent would prevent them from reaching their goals, but 47 percent say being a teen parent would simply delay them from reaching their goals.


Goals like decking out a civic with spinners and a spoiler!

[Plow]

Though this is important to specify, I was aware of it; I was mainly criticizing the way the article was written. Not mentioning abortion whatsoever, even if to dismiss it as a non-option among particularly religious teens, makes me wonder if the writer is biased against the practice. Textually, it's lacking. They're acting as if this is impossible to understand, and one of the solutions isn't so much as touched on? It's glaringly obvious and makes for a sloppy work.

I hate to break it to you but the vast majority of people are against "whoops" abortions.