Population and health. Reproductive health in adolescents

The young age structure of the Mexican population and the large number of adolescents estimated at 20.1 million in 1990 indicate a high potential demand for sex education and reproductive health services. The 4.9 million women 15-19 years old represented 23.5% of the reproductive-age female population. Adolescent fertility has declined slowly to a rate of 84/1000 women 15-19 years old in 1986 but the absolute number of births is still increasing. In 1987 14.1% of women ages 15-19 and 53.3% ages 20-24 had at least 1 child. The arrival of the first child occurs soon after the union. Surveys in 1976 1982 and 1987 showed that in all educational groups the first birth is occurring at ever younger ages. In 1987 35% of births to mothers ages 15-19 and 30% to those 20-24 were premarital. In 1976 only 17% of births to mothers 15-19 years old were premarital. Adolescents become sexually active at young ages and lack adequate contraceptive protection. Reasons given by adolescents for not using contraception include the belief that pregnancy is impossible the unplanned nature of sexual relations lack of knowledge of contraceptive methods and fear of side effects. A 1988 Mexico City survey found that 1% of females and 3% of males 15-25 years old had contracted sexually transmitted diseases. The same survey indicated that young people lack knowledge of the transmission and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Clear and timely instruction in management of sexuality is needed from the fifth or sixth grades of primary school so that adolescents will be informed of methods to avoid pregnancy and about the responsibilities and risks of early pregnancy.