Thread: Birth control message is not reaching Latinas

Hispanic communities are blossoming in nearly every city, town and hamlet in the United States, but the flower of Hispanic girlhood is wilting badly.

A young Latina is more likely to live in poverty, drop out of school, get pregnant as an unmarried teenager, succumb to drug use and attempt suicide than any other demographic group.

They are in worse shape than young black males, who had previously held the title of this country's lost souls.

These girls and young women are caught between the cultural traditions to which their immigrant parents expect them to adhere - particularly, service to the family - and the galloping teen culture in which they find themselves in this country, a culture about which their parents are particularly uninformed.

The result can be a sense of desperation.

According to The New York Times, a government study found that one in six young Hispanic women have attempted suicide, a rate 1 1/2 times as high as that among non-Hispanic white and black teenage girls. Fortunately, most survive.

According to Child Trends, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center in Washington, Hispanic teens reported the lowest levels of all racial and ethnic groups in the use of any contraceptive method the first time they had sex.

Worse, when asked whether they used any birth control method the last time they had sex, only 36 percent of Latinas said yes, while 72 percent of non-Hispanic whites reported that they used birth control.

"That is not an exact measure for consistent use of birth control," said Kerry Franzetta of Child Trends. "But it is a good proxy for consistency."

Child Trends also found that Hispanic girls are less likely to talk to their parents or their partners about birth control than any other group.

And Latinas are more likely than other girls to have older male partners - five years older or more - so there is likely to be a significant power differential in the relationship.

In addition, Child Trends found, Hispanic girls have a less-negative view of pregnancy than other girls and more of them were likely to see pregnancy as a positive event, compared with other teen girls.

The result of all this?

According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 51 percent of Latinas get pregnant at least once before age 20, compared with the national average of 35 percent of all teen girls.

While teen birth rates for other demographic groups have declined, the birth rate for Latina teens has actually increased.

And teen births no doubt explain the disproportionately high rates of poverty and school drop out - Latino teens are more likely to drop out of high school than are white or African-American youth.

"If there is poor communication about sex, love, marriage and birth control in most families, it is really limited in Hispanic families. There is almost a taboo about addressing the topic," said Sarah Brown, director of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

"In addition, these families don't understand American youth culture well enough to teach their kids how to be careful."

The Hispanic community places a high social value on children and on being a mother, and that means any messages about delaying first sex, consistent use of birth control and delaying child-bearing has to be delivered with some sensitivity.

"The message can't be 'No babies!'" Brown said. "It has to be about sequencing and timing. If you have a baby as an unwed teen, especially in this economy which is so tough on everybody, you are putting your participation in the American dream at risk."

The message, she said, has to be this: Finish your education. At least high school, and probably some additional training or education. Then give yourself a chance to get a toehold in the American economy.

Marry, then have children, when both parents are ready for the added responsibility, because the children born to two parents who have at least a high school diploma are nine times more likely to avoid poverty.

Until then, if you are not abstinent, use birth control every time you have sex.

When you think about it, that's the message for all our children.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health ... 930.column

It's ironic that most of these people say they come to to U.S so their children can have a better life. There seems to be no parental authority at all. While it has taken decades to get a handle on other ethnic problems, we have imported a brand new one, which will be a disaster to this country.

Originally Posted by gofer

It's ironic that most of these people say they come to to U.S so their children can have a better life. There seems to be no parental authority at all. While it has taken decades to get a handle on other ethnic problems, we have imported a brand new one, which will be a disaster to this country.

When a group of people are encouraged to break our laws by all levels of government, are rewarded with Welfare payments, in-state tuition, and anchor baby status for their offspring, it should come as no surprise that they also ignore all other avenues of responsible behavior.

And you're right. This is going to be a disaster. It already is in places like LA.

Well, I happen to think that some and probably more than anyone would care to admit, of the massive birthrate is intentional i.e. to gain political clout in the long run

Originally Posted by SherriCorrell

Well, I happen to think that some and probably more than anyone would care to admit, of the massive birthrate is intentional i.e. to gain political clout in the long run

That's certainly what has the politicians running scared, and why they're going to work tirelessly to sell the rest of us out.

Well, I happen to think that some and probably more than anyone would care to admit, of the massive birthrate is intentional i.e. to gain political clout in the long run

Sherri, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that. I believe they are trying to 'breed us out' as part of the Reconquista plan.
That is just my opinion, but I trust my instincts.

Originally Posted by CountFloyd

Originally Posted by SherriCorrell

Well, I happen to think that some and probably more than anyone would care to admit, of the massive birthrate is intentional i.e. to gain political clout in the long run

That's certainly what has the politicians running scared, and why they're going to work tirelessly to sell the rest of us out.

Yeah, except they want to change it to Socialism, or something worse!

I have not seen one young hispanic woman that is not pregnant. If these hospitals go broke it is their own fault, they should not allow them to go to the emergency room for delivery. They should be made to go to the front desk for admission in the hospital and prove that they will be able to pay before being admitted to the maternity ward like everyone else. They are literlly destroying health care in this country.

I believe they are trying to 'breed us out' as part of the Reconquista plan.

You're giving them way too much credit. Remember, most of these folks are Catholic and are only educated up to an eight or ninth grade level. I would suggest their religion and lack of formal education is a huge contributing factor to the problem.