Características reproductivas de adolescentes costarricences de área urbana marginal

Introduction. Sexual activity among teenagers is commonly considered a psycho-social risk associated with the use of ineffective protective practices, alcohol, tobacco, and marihuana. The purpose of this work was to establish the reproductive behavior of teenagers from an urban-marginal area of Costa Rica. Material and methods. A survey among 820 (52.7% females) 10-19 year old adolescents was carried on in San Jose (capital city of Costa Rica), in an open marginal community. A questionnaire with closed questions was applied; this questionnaire with closed questions was applied; this questionnaire searched demographic data, menarche and spermarche, age of sexual activity initiation, use of protective measures, and reproductive history. Descriptive test were used in the statistical analysis. Results. Age of menarche averaged 12 years, and age of spermarche 14.1 years. The first sexual intercourse occurred between 11 and 14 years of age in 38.5%, averaging 14.6 years in males and 15.7 in females; condom or contraceptive pills were used in the first intercourse in 19.9%. At the time of survey, 27.8% of females and 28.9% of males were adolescent parents. As and average, the first pregnancy was present at 16.9 years of age in females, and 18.8 years for males. Conclusion. Our data allows us to characterize the reproductive behavior of teenagers from and urban-marginal zone of Costa Rica.