Pregnancy Among Latinos

Adolescent Pregnancy among Latinas Although adolescent pregnancy has been steadily declining, the Unites States is the highest rated country experiencing adolescent births totaling 57 pregnancies per 1,000 females in 2014 (Sedgh, Finer, Akinrinola, Eiliers, & Singh, 2015). Furthermore, nationwide adolescent Latinos have the highest birthrate, totaling 81 births for every 1,000 Latino adolescents (Dehlendorf, Marchi, Vittinghof, & Braveman, 2014). These statistics persuade views of Adolescent pregnancy as cause for public health concerns (Sterling & Sadler, 2009). However, in order to implement programs to educate Latino adolescents about pregnancy prevention we must first examine adolescent sexual activity, contraceptive use and unintended …show more content…
Adolescent pregnancy can alter the lives of adolescents in significant ways. Whether this transition is interpreted in positive or negative ways, it is important that society understands the actions that influence adolescent behaviors. Specifically, Latino youth are the most likely to experience an adolescent pregnancy at a rate of 75% or greater nationally (Sterling & Sadler, 2009). In order to understand adolescent pregnancy and its influences on Latino youth we can utilize Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory. Bronfenbrenner developed the ecological systems theory as a way to understand the influence the environment has on the child (Bronfenbrenner, 1994). Furthermore, Bronfenbrenner’s model proposes there are five influential levels: the micro system, the meso system, the exo system and the macro system and lastly, the chrono system (Bronfenbrenner, 1994). In this case the child is, the adolescent youth who is placed in the center or the Microsystem. The next level of influence is the meso system which includes the nuclear or immediate family (Bronfenbrenner, 1994). In this case this will be the family the Latino youth lives with. The third level of the systems is the exo system which includes the child’s community (Bronfenbrenner, 1994). For Latino Youth this would be their neighborhood and educational institutions. Next we have the Macro system which serves as society at large (Bronfenbrenner, 1994). Lastly, Bronfenbrenner incorporates the chrono system; the chrono system serves as transitions within the child’s life (Bronfenbrenner, 1994). Transitions for Latino youth would be changing educational institutions, relocation and shifts in stability. According to Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems theory, Latino youth are influenced by family, peers, educational institutions, society and public policy (Bronfenbrenner,