Attitudes to adolescent pregnancy among families in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador: insights from a longitudinal study

Abstract

Over the past few decades growing attention has focused on the perceived challenge of adolescent pregnancy and the need for girls to make 'smart choices'. This has generated considerable debate particularly because of the failure of many programmes and interventions to consider the structural constraints faced by young women in accessing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Yet limited attention has been given to the views and experiences of girls' parents and caregivers, many of whom were often adolescent parents themselves. We use data from the Real Choices, Real Lives longitudinal study conducted by Plan International to consider how the experiences of girls' families shape their attitudes to teenage pregnancy in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador. Many families believe girls need to practise abstinence and avoid men and boys but given the lack of provision for SRHR faced by young women this response is not unexpected.

Evaluación de impacto de un Programa Educativo a nivel comunitario sobre derechos sexuales y reproductivos en niños, niñas y adolescentes en el sector rural del Ecuador

“…Vale la pena resaltar que el análisis de Plan Internacional sobre la situación y respuesta a los derechos sexuales y reproductivos de niñas, niños y adolescentes en el cantón Guamote en 2014 arrojó resultados que se alinean estrechamente con nuestros hallazgos (Gideon & Engle, 2023). Como señala (Echeverri et al, 2013), existe una discrepancia entre el conocimiento real (correcto) sobre los derechos sexuales y reproductivos y la autopercepción de los estudiantes sobre su conocimiento.…”

Cuban Youth: Changing Attitudes Towards Sexual and Reproductive Health

“…The relationship between gender norms and health and well-being outcomes has become the focus of a growing body of both academic and policy literature (Cislaghi and Heise, 2020; Connell and Pearse, 2015; Heise et al, 2019; Taukobong et al, 2016; UNU-IIGH and UN Women 2022). Within this literature there has been some acknowledgement of the impact of gender norms on adolescent health (Barrett et al, 2021: 241; Gideon and Engle, 2022) and a recognition that early adolescence can be a critical moment to address gender attitudes before they become more entrenched (Kågesten et al, 2016). Scholarship as well as international policy work has also focused on the need to examine norms regarding gender and sexuality and how these may be transmitted to girls by their caregivers to support the prevention of adolescent pregnancy (Coll et al, 2019).…”