Communication before onset of sexual activity about risk and prevention is associated with safe sex practices. Improving parent-adolescent communication is a poorly studied strategy to influence adolescents' behaviour. Interventions should promote early parent-adolescent communication.

Objetivo. Caracterizar a las adolescentes que han tenido algún embarazo y analizar la asociación de éste con el rezago educativo, a partir de una encuesta representativa en México. Material y métodos. Estudio transversal con información de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición (Ensanut) 2012, con datos sociodemográficos y reproductivos de 1 790 mujeres de 12 a 19 años de edad con inicio de vida sexual y antecedente de embarazo. Se ajustaron tres modelos estadísticos para observar la asociación entre variables. Resultados. El rezago educativo está presente en 74.9% de las adolescentes con antecedente de embarazo. Tener embarazo previo está asociado con cohabitar con la pareja (RM=8.4), rezago educativo (RM=2.4), nivel socioeconómico bajo (RM=2.0) y asistencia a la escuela (RM=0.5). El rezago educativo muestra una asociación con el antecedente de embarazo alguna vez en la vida (RM=2.4), no así con el primer embarazo al momento de la encuesta. Conclusión. Se requieren políticas y estrategias operativas eficientes para favorecer la permanencia escolar y reducir el rezago educativo en adolescentes con y sin hijos.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention for parents of first year high school students in the State of Morelos, Mexico, whose aim was to impact adolescents’ sexual behavior, knowledge and access to contraception.Material and methodsQuasi‐experimental prospective study with eleven control and eleven intervention schools using self‐administered questionnaires for parents and adolescents pre‐ and post‐intervention. Parent–child dyads in the control and intervention schools were matched according to parents’ propensity score; the average treatment effect (ATE) was estimated for adolescent’s outcome variables.ResultsAt follow‐up, we found significant differences for adolescents in the intervention schools: 6.8% delayed initiation of sexual intercourse, 14.4% had correct knowledge about emergency contraception (EC), and 164% reported having received condoms from their parents, when comparing with students in control schools.ConclusionsOur results suggest that parent‐focused interventions could be an innovative and effective strategy to promote adolescents sexual health.

ObjectivesThis review aims to summarise evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to prevent youth violence in Latin America.MethodsA systematic search on 13 academic databases was conducted to locate studies evaluating a primary or secondary prevention intervention in Latin America. Studies could use any type of quantitative design to assess outcomes related to youth violence. A search of websites, references and citation searching was also carried out. The quality of each study was assessed.ResultsNine studies were identified. Most documented positive effects of the interventions on the perception of youth violence present in the community/school. Evidence was found of a reduction in homicides and juvenile crimes in three studies, two of which evaluated a community-based intervention. There were mixed results for the self-report of participation on violent acts. The majority of the studies lacked of a rigorous design.ConclusionsMost of the interventions had some promising results, including the reduction of homicides within communities. Community-based programmes were the most consistent regarding an effectiveness to prevent violence. However, the evidence for Latin America is still scarce and relies on non-rigorously designed studies.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00038-016-0909-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Objetivo. Analizar las intenciones de adolescentes de formar una familia a edad temprana. Material y métodos. Estudio transversal con cuestionarios a estudiantes de ocho secundarias y preparatorias en Morelos y Ciudad de México, en 2010. Se exploraron intenciones de casarse y tener un hijo y se ajustó de manera exploratoria un modelo de rutas para identificar predictores en el plan de tener un hijo antes o después de los 20 años (n=2 974). Resultados. El 77% espera tener su primer hijo a los 20 años/después; 21% se muestra indeciso y 2% antes de los 20 años. Las expectativas de los padres influyen en la importancia que el adolescente le otorga a alcanzar un alto nivel de estudios, mismo que promueve las intenciones de tener hijos hasta los 20 años o después (β=0.13). Conclusiones. En la prevención de embarazos tempranos es imprescindible apoyar a los adolescentes para que se fijen metas de desarrollo personal.