Although women status in Mexico has changed significantly over time, many Mexican women face a lot of public health issues, discrimination, and different kinds of harassment that need to be addressed and worked on (Ibarguen-Tinley, 2015). This paper targets teenage girls between the ages of 13-19 currently living in Mexico City, Mexico. The three top public health issues faced by these population are drug abuse, sexual harassment, and teenage pregnancy.
Drug abuse is very common among Mexicans, especially among young girls living in Mexico City (Marx, Stoker, & Suri, 2013). Almost 30% of high school aged girls in this city have abused a drug of some kind at one point in their life (Benjet et al., 2012). Based on the statistics provided by Benjet …show more content…
Many teens do not go to school or to work for fear of being raped in valleys and on the streets (Logan, 2015). Based on a survey conducted by Jeha, Usta, Ghulmiyah, and Nassar (2015) on street harassment in different cities in Mexico, they found 79% of women, which includes 30% of teenage girls living in Mexico City, have been subjected to some sort of sexual harassment in public. Based on the studies done by (Cortina, 2012), there are 1343 sexual assaults happen every year in Mexico City. This number seems to be a low number as most cases go unreported because the authorities blame the victims for getting harassed (Cortina, 2012). The health consequences of sexual assault can be severe and may end up being long term (Logan, 2015). Victims may experience genital injuries and gynecological complications, such as infection, chronic pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, and urinary tract infections (Gruber, & Fineran, 2014). Sexual violence can also put teens at risk of acquiring sexually transmitted disease (STD) including HIV/AIDS or unwanted pregnancies which may lead to an unsafe abortion or to injuries sustained during an abortion (Gruber & Fineran, 2014). Moreover, sexual harassment victims may experience numerous psychological and emotional disorders including depression, suicide, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder or rape trauma syndrome, loss of self-esteem, and behavioral and eating disorders (Eom, Restaino, Perkins, Neveln, & Harrington,
Drug abuse is very common among Mexicans, especially among young girls living in Mexico City (Marx, Stoker, & Suri, 2013). Almost 30% of high school aged girls in this city have abused a drug of some kind at one point in their life (Benjet et al., 2012). Based on the statistics provided by Benjet …show more content…
Many teens do not go to school or to work for fear of being raped in valleys and on the streets (Logan, 2015). Based on a survey conducted by Jeha, Usta, Ghulmiyah, and Nassar (2015) on street harassment in different cities in Mexico, they found 79% of women, which includes 30% of teenage girls living in Mexico City, have been subjected to some sort of sexual harassment in public. Based on the studies done by (Cortina, 2012), there are 1343 sexual assaults happen every year in Mexico City. This number seems to be a low number as most cases go unreported because the authorities blame the victims for getting harassed (Cortina, 2012). The health consequences of sexual assault can be severe and may end up being long term (Logan, 2015). Victims may experience genital injuries and gynecological complications, such as infection, chronic pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, and urinary tract infections (Gruber, & Fineran, 2014). Sexual violence can also put teens at risk of acquiring sexually transmitted disease (STD) including HIV/AIDS or unwanted pregnancies which may lead to an unsafe abortion or to injuries sustained during an abortion (Gruber & Fineran, 2014). Moreover, sexual harassment victims may experience numerous psychological and emotional disorders including depression, suicide, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder or rape trauma syndrome, loss of self-esteem, and behavioral and eating disorders (Eom, Restaino, Perkins, Neveln, & Harrington,