[Risk of pregnancy in adolescence]. / El riesgo de embarazo en la adolescencia.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To describe the frequency and distribution of sexual conduct with risk of pregnancy, the degree of information on sexuality and contraceptive methods. To analyze the relationship between sexual conduct with risk of pregnancy and the most relevant variables of social surroundings of the adolescent family, friends, school, etc. DESIGN: Descriptive survey by means of a questionnaire. LOCATION Basic Neighbourhood Health Zone (Gran Canaria). TARGET GROUP Teenage students aged between 14 and 19. Measurements and main results 21% of the population in the survey have sexual relationships, and out of these, 88% run a high risk of becoming pregnant. The information they have is basically theoretical, and practical knowledge is low. Older adolescents (OR, 1,4/year), males (OR 2.08), those with parents with no qualifications (OR 1.88) and those with parents of a high income bracket (OR 4.11) have the most high-risk sexual relationships. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of high-risk sexual conduct in adolescence is underlined, plus the need for information of adolescents, although it does not seem enough, in order to face sexuality with guarantees.