Differences in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Latin America by Ethnoracial, Rural-Urban, and Information Exposure Groups

Lucrecia Mena-Meléndez, Indiana University, Bloomington

Adolescent fertility and pregnancy rates in Latin America and the Caribbean remain among the highest globally, primarily driven by unintended pregnancies linked to poverty, gender inequality, and limited access to education and contraception. Prior research shows that adolescent pregnancies are most prevalent among the poorest, rural, and youngest populations, with notable disparities across ethnic and racial groups. However, there is limited research on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes—such as births, contraceptive use, and terminations—among marginalized adolescents, especially in relation to their exposure to family planning information from the media. This study uses pooled Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, and Peru (1986–2015) to examine how ethnoracial identity, rural-urban residence, and media exposure influence SRH outcomes. Utilizing multilevel logistic and multinomial regression models, this analysis will estimate the odds of births, contraceptive use, and pregnancy termination by ethnoracial identity and place of residence while considering media exposure as a potential moderator. Preliminary findings suggest that adolescents from ethnoracial minority groups and rural areas have higher fertility rates, lower contraceptive use, and fewer pregnancy terminations. This study aims to inform targeted interventions to improve SRH outcomes for marginalized adolescents in the region.

Keywords: Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Multi-level modeling , The Demography of Indigenous Populations

See extended abstract.