Safe abortion in Latin America: a look at abortion accompaniment collectives from the perspective of their activists.

Over the last decade, activists in Latin America have expanded access to safe abortion through processes of accompaniment. Abortion accompaniment is characterised by activism and community-based strategies to facilitate access to, and safe use of, medication abortion, mainly outside clinical contexts. Drawing on findings from a survey of 515 activists who were part of Accompaniment Collectives in Latin America, this study describes the organisation of these collectives, barriers and facilitators to their activism, and how accompaniers perceive the impact and future of abortion accompaniment. Accompaniment Collectives are organised and flexible and operate in diverse social and legal contexts. The main goals of accompaniment are the normalisation and social decriminalisation of abortion culturally (84%); the social construction of autonomy (79%); and the protection of people's freedom (73%), life (71%) and health (67%). Activists in legally restrictive settings identified limited access to abortion medication (73%) and restrictive laws (71%) as the main barriers to accompaniment, while health care personnel objecting to abortion provision on grounds of conscience was most common in legally permissive settings (64%). Collectives have developed strategies to overcome such barriers to and expanding access to abortion care. Activists expect accompaniment to continue regardless of the legal status of abortion.

[Teen pregnancy and educational gaps: Analysis of a national survey in Mexico]. / Embarazo adolescente y rezago educativo: análisis de una encuesta nacional en México.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize female adolescents who have been pregnant, and to analyze the association between adolescent pregnancy and educational gaps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Data come from the Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición (Ensanut 2012), a Mexican representative survey. The set of data used is related to sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics from 1 790 women from 12 to 19 years who had begun their sexual life and had a pregnancy record. Three statistical models were adjusted to observe the association between variables. The dependent variable of the first model was the condition of previous pregnancy, the second to be pregnant at the time of data collection, and the third, educational gap. RESULTS: A 74.9% of the adolescents with history of pregnancy has educational gap. To have the condition of previous pregnancy is associated with living with sexual partner (OR=8.4), educational gap (OR=2.4), low socioeconomical level (OR=2.0) and school assistance (OR=0.5). To be pregnant at the time of data collection has related only to living with sexual partner (OR=9.4). The educational gap shows an association with having more than one pregnancy (OR=2.4), live with sexual partner (OR=1.6), low socioeconomical level (OR=1.8), and school assistance as protective factor (OR=0.3). CONCLUSION: It is necessary to implement effective and efficient educational public politics in order to decrease educational gap. At the same time, to guarantee and improve sexual education in the school system to prevent adolescent pregnancy.

[Mexican adolescentes' goals as determinants in the prevention of early pregnancies]. / Aspiraciones educativas y familiares como condicionantes en la prevención de embarazos tempranos en México.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore adolescents' intentions related to the early formation of a family. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We administered a survey to students in eight schools in Morelos and Mexico City, in 2010. We analyzed intentions of marrying or having a child and fitted an exploratory path model to assess predictors of the intentions of having a child before the age of 20 (n=2974). RESULTS: Around 77% of adolescents expect to have their first child at 20 years or later; 21% show ambivalence or incongruence regarding this, whereas 2% expect to have a child before the age of 20. Parents' expectations for their child's education influence the importance that adolescents give to education. The latter promotes the idea of postponing childbearing until 20 years or later (ß=0.13). CONCLUSIONS: In order to prevent early pregnancies, interventions and programs should encourage the construction of personal and professional goals.

[Between contradictions and risks: Mexican male adolescents' views about teenage pregnancy and its association with sexual behavior]. / Entre contradicciones y riesgos: opiniones de varones adolescentes mexicanos sobre el embarazo temprano y su asociación con el comportamiento sexual.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the opinions of Mexican male adolescents regarding teenage pregnancy and analyze its association with sexual behavior. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire among a conventional sample of male students (15-19 years old) in eight public schools in Morelos and Mexico City. Analyses include multivariate models to identify the association between opinions and sexual behaviors. RESULTS: Overall, 68% agree that a teenage pregnancy is a negative event. In a hypothetical case, if a girlfriend got pregnant in this moment 56% would continue in the school whereas 18% would definitely abandon it. Those who affirm that a teenage pregnancy is something very bad have greater odds of using condoms (OR=1.8; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Male adolescents' views about teenage pregnancy are associated with some sexual behaviors; however their opinions reflect several contradictions. The design of surveys directed exclusively to explore male adolescents' opinions about reproductive health is urgent.

[Early detection of breast and cervical cancer among indigenous communities in Morelos, Mexico]. / Detección temprana de cáncer de mama y cervicouterino en localidades con concentración de población indígena en Morelos.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the perception in relation to when and how to perform actions for the early detection of breast and cervical cancer among women and health care providers in communities with a high percentage of indigenous population in Morelos, Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten health providers and 58 women users of health services were interviewed which have a first level of attention in five communities. The analysis was developed under the approach of the Grounded Theory. RESULTS: Providers are poorly informed about current regulations and specific clinical indications for the detection of cervical and breast cancer. Few practice health literacy under intercultural sensitization. The users have imprecise or wrong notions of the early detection. CONCLUSIONS: The need for training in adherence to norms is evident. It is urgent to assume a culturally relevant approach to enable efficient communication and promote health literacy for early detection of these two cancers.

Characterizing two models for abortion care in Argentina pre-Law 27.610: 2016-2019.

OBJECTIVE: Explore the use of two abortion care models in Argentina over the period 2016-2019: pro-rights private medical service providers and abortion accompaniment (via self-management and via health institutions); and compare the profile of who accesses these models and when. METHODS: We used data from accompaniment collectives in the Socorristas en Red and private service providers. We estimated annual abortion rates via these service models and compared the profile of the populations by type of service and gestational age (2019) using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. RESULTS: In 2016, 37 people per 100,000 women of reproductive age obtained accompanied self-managed abortions, and the number increased to 111 per 100,000 in 2019, a threefold increase. The rate of abortions via care providers was 18 per 100,000 in 2016 and 33 in 2019. Higher proportions of those who obtained abortion via care providers were 30 years or older. A higher proportion of those accompanied were 19 years or younger; 11% of those who obtained accompanied self-managed abortions were more than 12 weeks gestation compared with 7% among those who had accompanied abortions via health institutions and 0.2% among those who had abortions with private providers. A higher proportion of those who accessed accompanied abortions after 12 weeks gestation had lower educational levels, did not work or have social security coverage, had more past pregnancies, and attempted to terminate their pregnancies prior to contacting the Socorristas compared to those who had accompanied abortions at 12 weeks or earlier. CONCLUSIONS: In Argentina, prior to Law 27.610 models of care guaranteed access to safe abortion. It is important to continue making visible and legitimizing these models of care so that all those who decide to have an abortion, whether inside or outside health institutions, have safe and positive experiences.

Socioeconomic status, urbanicity and risk behaviors in Mexican youth: an analysis of three cross-sectional surveys.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between urbanicity and adolescent health is a critical issue for which little empirical evidence has been reported. Although an association has been suggested, a dichotomous rural versus urban comparison may not succeed in identifying differences between adolescent contexts. This study aims to assess the influence of locality size on risk behaviors in a national sample of young Mexicans living in low-income households, while considering the moderating effect of socioeconomic status (SES). METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of three national surveys of low-income households in Mexico in different settings: rural, semi-urban and urban areas. We analyzed risk behaviors in 15-21-year-olds and their potential relation to urbanicity. The risk behaviors explored were: tobacco and alcohol consumption, sexual initiation and condom use. The adolescents' localities of residence were classified according to the number of inhabitants in each locality. We used a logistical model to identify an association between locality size and risk behaviors, including an interaction term with SES. RESULTS: The final sample included 17,974 adolescents from 704 localities in Mexico. Locality size was associated with tobacco and alcohol consumption, showing a similar effect throughout all SES levels: the larger the size of the locality, the lower the risk of consuming tobacco or alcohol compared with rural settings. The effect of locality size on sexual behavior was more complex. The odds of adolescent condom use were higher in larger localities only among adolescents in the lowest SES levels. We found no statically significant association between locality size and sexual initiation. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that in this sample of adolescents from low-income areas in Mexico, risk behaviors are related to locality size (number of inhabitants). Furthermore, for condom use, this relation is moderated by SES. Such heterogeneity suggests the need for more detailed analyses of both the effects of urbanicity on behavior, and the responses--which are also heterogeneous--required to address this situation.

A quasi-experimental evaluation of parents as sexual health educators resulting in delayed sexual initiation and increased access to condoms.

OBJECTIVE: To 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 METHODS: Quasi-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. RESULTS: At 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. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that parent-focused interventions could be an innovative and effective strategy to promote adolescents sexual health.

[Interventions involving parents in order to impact adolescent sexual behavior]. / Intervenciones con padres de familia para modificar el comportamiento sexual en adolescentes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of educational interventions that incorporate parent participation to modify adolescent sexual behavior. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of 5 electronic databases for articles published between 2002 and 2009 that evaluated educational interventions involving parents. RESULTS: Nineteen articles evaluated 15 interventions that met all the criteria for inclusion. They found a significant increase in adolescents' intentions to postpone sexual intercourse and use contraceptives, a reduction in self-reported sexual relations and an increase in condom use. Positive results were also found for individual protective factors such as knowledge and attitude, and family factors such as parent-child communication, perception of rules, monitoring/supervision by parents and family support. CONCLUSION: Educational interventions that include parents support healthy sexual behavior among adolescents. Parental participation can be included in any intervention aimed at adolescents.

A Rapid Review of Interventions to Prevent First Pregnancy among Adolescents and Its Applicability to Latin America.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To summarize recent literature on the effectiveness of interventions to prevent adolescent pregnancy and to explore the applicability of these interventions to Latin America (LA). Design, Setting, Participants, Interventions, and Main Outcome Measures: We carried out a rapid review of the literature (2005-2019). Studies were included if: they evaluated interventions targeting adolescents and prevention of pregnancy; they used a randomized controlled design; and pregnancy was measured as an outcome. Applicability of the interventions to LA was assessed using the following information: target population; intervention design and resources; type, skills, and training of providers; system arrangements; and acceptability and social context. RESULTS: Nine studies were included, 5 described interventions in African countries, 2 in the United Kingdom, and 2 in the United States. Interventions were rated as highly applicable to LA in the context of target population, profile of the providers, and design; however, variations arose when assessing system arrangements and social context. Incentive-based interventions showed significant effects in the prevention of adolescent pregnancy and were rated as highly applicable. CONCLUSION: This review provides professionals, policymakers, researchers, and educators potential criteria to consider when adapting successful evidence-based interventions to prevent adolescent pregnancy in LA.

[Prevalence and factors associated with suicidal behavior among Mexican students]. / Prevalencia y factores asociados a la ideación e intento suicida en adolescentes de educación media superior de la República mexicana.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of and factors associated with suicidal ideation and intent in adolescent students in Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 12,424 students from public schools in 2007. We used logistic regression to obtain odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: A total of 47% of the students reported at least one suicidal ideation symptom and 9% reported an antecedent of suicidal intent. Factors associated with suicide ideation and intent include low confidence in communication with parents (OR=1.30; OR=1.54), sexual abuse (OR=1.92; OR=1.57), depressive symptoms (OR=5.36; OR=1.51), tobacco use (OR=1.30; OR=2.57), alcohol use (OR=1.60; OR=1.31) and, for women, having had sexual relations (OR=1.28; OR=1.65). CONCLUSIONS: Roughly 50% of high school students had at least one symptom of suicidal ideation. To lessen this problem, associated factors should be considered, including consumption of addictive substances, gender, history of sexual abuse and depression.

[Emergency contraception in Mexican students]. / Anticoncepción de emergencia en estudiantes mexicanos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate emergency contraception (EC) knowledge and use as well as identify factors associated to correct EC knowledge among public schools students in Morelos, Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted in 2003-2004 in a sample of 1,550 students (ages 14-24). Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated to EC correct knowledge. RESULTS: Among all, 40% were men and 60% women with an average age of 19 years. Sixty percent have heard about EC, nevertheless, only 45% have correct knowledge about it; 3% of sexually active students (43%) reported its use. Factors associated to EC correct knowledge are: being a woman (OR=1.66; CI 1,33, 2,06), being sexually active (OR=1.77; CI 1,43, 2,18), middle income (OR=1.87; CI 1,04, 3,37), living in a semi-urban zone (OR=1.34; CI 1,02, 1,77), drinking alcohol (OR=1.78; CI 1,42, 2,22). CONCLUSIONS: In Morelos, adolescents' knowledge of EC is scarce. Specific messages regarding its correct use are necessary.

Parent-adolescent communication about sex in Morelos, Mexico: does it impact sexual behaviour?

OBJECTIVES: Parent-adolescent communication about sexuality has been shown to influence adolescents' sexual behaviour. This study aims to describe communication about sex between Mexican parents and adolescents, and its relation to age at first intercourse and condom use. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with self-administered questionnaires of first year students at 23 high schools. Communication was divided into three themes: biological aspects, risks associated with sexual behaviour, and prevention. For sexually active adolescents, discussion timing was determined to have occurred prior to, or after sexual initiation. Analysis included logistic regression models stratifying by discussion timing. RESULTS: Overall 5,461 questionnaires were analysed. Among male respondents 24.3% and among females 10.6% stated that they were sexually active. As many as 83.1% reported having spoken with parents about sexual relations. Communication was more common with mothers. Discussions about risk and prevention prior to sexual initiation was associated with condom use at first intercourse (Odds ratio [OR] = 2.05); late discussion was associated with younger age (<15) at first intercourse (OR = 3.51). CONCLUSIONS: 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.

Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of Interventions to Prevent Youth Violence in Latin America: A Systematic Review and Qualitative Evidence Synthesis.

Youth violence in Latin America is an important public health problem. However, the evidence from preventive programs within the region to address this problem is limited. Identifying context-specific factors that facilitate or hinder the success of interventions is necessary to guarantee the successful implementation of new preventive strategies. We present a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative studies to identify factors affecting the implementation of programs to prevent youth violence in Latin America. We searched 10 electronic databases and websites of international institutions. The quality of the studies was assessed using the critical appraisal skills program checklist, while the certainty of the findings of the synthesis was assessed using the certainty of the qualitative evidence approach. We included eight papers describing five programs in Argentina, Venezuela, Peru, El Salvador, and Mexico. Most of the factors affecting the implementation of programs were aspects related to features of the programs and social/political constraints. The synthesis suggests that future programs can benefit from having a multidisciplinary and/or multisectoral approach involving different key players. At the same time, potential strategies for avoiding problems related to such active engagement should be planned via promoting effective channels for communication and supervision. The review also suggests the importance of increasing awareness and motivation toward the problem of youth violence among relevant agencies and stakeholders. While the limited volume and quality of the literature impact on the ability to draw conclusions, the results could be useful for new programs being designed and the ones seeking to be adapted from other contexts.

Characterizing two models for abortion care in Argentina pre-Law 27.610: 2016-2019 / Utilización de dos modelos en la atención al aborto en Argentina pre-Ley 27.610: 2016-2019

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE Explore the use of two abortion care models in Argentina over the period 2016-2019: pro-rights private medical service providers and abortion accompaniment (via self-management and via health institutions); and compare the profile of who accesses these models and when. METHODS We used data from accompaniment collectives in the Socorristas en Red and private service providers. We estimated annual abortion rates via these service models and compared the profile of the populations by type of service and gestational age (2019) using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. RESULTS In 2016, 37 people per 100,000 women of reproductive age obtained accompanied self-managed abortions, and the number increased to 111 per 100,000 in 2019, a threefold increase. The rate of abortions via care providers was 18 per 100,000 in 2016 and 33 in 2019. Higher proportions of those who obtained abortion via care providers were 30 years or older. A higher proportion of those accompanied were 19 years or younger; 11% of those who obtained accompanied self-managed abortions were more than 12 weeks gestation compared with 7% among those who had accompanied abortions via health institutions and 0.2% among those who had abortions with private providers. A higher proportion of those who accessed accompanied abortions after 12 weeks gestation had lower educational levels, did not work or have social security coverage, had more past pregnancies, and attempted to terminate their pregnancies prior to contacting the Socorristas compared to those who had accompanied abortions at 12 weeks or earlier. CONCLUSIONS In Argentina, prior to Law 27.610 models of care guaranteed access to safe abortion. It is important to continue making visible and legitimizing these models of care so that all those who decide to have an abortion, whether inside or outside health institutions, have safe and positive experiences.

RESUMEN OBJETIVO Explorar la utilización de dos modelos para la atención al aborto en Argentina en el período 2016-2019: abortos con proveedores de servicios médicos privados proderechos y abortos acompañados (vía autogestión y vía instituciones de salud); y comparar el perfil de quiénes acceden a estos modelos y cuándo. MÉTODOS Utilizamos datos de sistematizaciones de colectivas de acompañamiento en Socorristas en Red y de proveedores de servicios privados. Estimamos tasas anuales de abortos mediante estos servicios y comparamos el perfil de las poblaciones por tipo de servicio y edad gestacional (2019) utilizando estadísticas descriptivas y prueba chi-cuadrado. RESULTADOS En el 2016, 37 personas por cada 100,000 mujeres en edad reproductiva obtuvieron abortos acompañados vía autogestión, aumentando a 111 por 100,000 en 2019, es decir, se triplicó. La tasa de abortos con proveedores fue de 18 por 100,000 en 2016 y de 33 en 2019. Mayor proporción de quienes acudieron con proveedores tenía 30 años o más y mayor proporción de personas acompañadas tenía 19 años o menos; el 11% de quienes obtuvieron abortos acompañados vía autogestión tenía más de 12 semanas de gestación en comparación con el 7% entre quienes tuvieron abortos acompañados vía instituciones de salud y el 0.2% entre quienes abortaron con proveedores. Una mayor proporción de quienes accedieron a abortos acompañados después de 12 semanas de gestación tenía menor nivel educativo, no trabajaban ni tenían cobertura de obra social, y habían tenido más embarazos e intentado interrumpir su embarazo comparando con quienes abortaron acompañadas a las 12 semanas o antes. CONCLUSIONES En Argentina existen modelos de atención que han garantizado el acceso a abortos seguros desde antes de la Ley 27.610. Es importante continuar visibilizando y legitimando estos modelos para que todas las personas que deciden abortar, dentro o fuera de instituciones de salud, tengan experiencias seguras y positivas.

Interventions to prevent youth violence in Latin America: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: This review aims to summarise evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to prevent youth violence in Latin America. METHODS: A 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. RESULTS: Nine 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. CONCLUSIONS: Most 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.

Congruence in reported frequency of parent-adolescent sexual health communication: A study from Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Most studies on parent-adolescent sexual health communication come from developed countries and are based on either parents' or children's reports. In developing countries, there is little evidence about the agreement among reports of all parties involved in parent-adolescent sexual health communication. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to explore the congruence (agreement) between adolescents and their parents about how frequently they discuss on selected sexual health topics. SUBJECTS: A total of 1606 parent-adolescent dyads of adolescents attending the first year in public high schools and their parents, in Morelos, Mexico were sampled in this study. METHODS: The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire that included the frequency of parent-adolescent communication about eight sexual health topics. An ordinal logistic threshold model was used to estimate intra-class correlation coefficients within parent-adolescent dyads (as a measure of congruence) and to test if thresholds were equal between parents and adolescents. RESULTS: Congruence in reported frequency of parent-adolescent sexual health communication ranged from 0.205 (menstruation) to 0.307 (condoms) for mother-adolescent dyads, and from 0.103 (ejaculation) to 0.380 (condoms) for father-adolescent dyads. The thresholds (i.e., the cutoff points that define the categories in the observed ordinal variable) differed between parents and adolescents for each of the sexual health topics explored (p<0.05 for father-adolescent dyads and p<0.001 for mother-adolescent dyads). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a low congruence between parents' and adolescents' reports on parent-adolescent sexual health communication. This might be due to interpretation of frequency and intensity of sexual health communication which differs between parents and adolescents.

Abortion practice in Mexico: a survey of health care providers.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about abortion practice in Mexico postlegalization of abortion in Mexico City in 2007. STUDY DESIGN: In 2009, we anonymously surveyed 418 Mexican health care providers at the Colegio Mexicano de Especialistas en Ginecologia y Obstetricia meeting using audio computer-assisted self-interview technology. RESULTS: The majority of respondents were obstetrician gynecologists (376, 90%), Catholic (341, 82%), 35-60 years old (332, 79%) and male (222, 53%) and worked with trainees (307, 74%). Prior to 2007, 11% (46) and 17% (71) provided medical and surgical abortions; now, 15% (62) and 21% (86) provide these services, respectively. Practitioners from Mexico City were more likely to provide services than those from other areas. Most medical abortion providers (50, 81%) used ineffective protocols. Surgical abortion providers mainly used either manual vacuum aspiration (39, 45%) or sharp curettage (27, 32%). Most abortion providers were trained in residency and wanted more training in medical (54, 87%) and surgical (59, 69%) abortion. Among nonproviders, 49% (175) and 27% (89) expressed interest in learning to perform medical and surgical abortion, respectively. CONCLUSION: Given the interest in learning to provide safe abortion services and the prevalent use of ineffective medical abortion regimens and sharp curettage, abortion training in Mexico should be strengthened.

Características de la atención prenatal en adolescentes del Perú, comparación con mujeres adultas / Prenatal care among adolescents in Peru, a comparative analysis with adult women

Objetivos: Describir las prácticas médicas realizadas en la atención prenatal en mujeres en Perú e identificar silas prácticas de control prenatal (CPN) recibidas por mujeres adolescentes y adultas fueron distintas. Material ymétodos: Estudio descriptivo y comparativo. Se utilizaron datos recolectados por la Encuesta Demográfica y de Salud Familiar continua 2004-2008, con 994 adolescentes (15-19 años) y 12556 adultas (20-49 años). Se efectuaron comparaciones entre adolescentes y adultas en relación con las prácticas médicas efectuadas durante la atención prenatal. Resultados: El 50% de las adolescentes inició el CPN en el tercer mes de embarazo en comparacióncon la mitad de las adultas que lo inició en el segundo mes. La mitad de las adolescentes reportaron 7 visitasde CPN en total mientras que el 50% de adultas reportaron 8. Menor proporción de adolescentes reportó haberrecibido algunas de las acciones y prácticas médicas que se efectúan durante la atención prenatal...

Objective: To describe medical practices reported by women that received prenatal care (PNC) in Peru.Particularly, we aim to identify differences in the services provided to adolescents compared to adult women.Methods: Descriptive study. Data came from the Demographic Health Surveys 2004-2008 in Peru, which includedinformation of 994 adolescents (15-19 years old) and 12 556 adult women (20-49 years old). Comparisons weremade between adolescents and adult women regarding the practices received during prenatal care visits. Results:Among adolescents, 50% initiated PNC during the third month of pregnancy whereas half of the adult womenstarted on the second month. Adolescents received 7 prenatal visits comparing to 8 in adult women. Comparing to adult women, adolescents reported in lower proportions that they received some of the medical practices duringprenatal care...