Trends in teenage motherhood in Ecuador: challenges and inequalities

Objectives To describe trends in teenage motherhood (TM), based on the socioeconomic groups teenagers belong to, and factors related to their first experience of heterosexual intercourse (FEHI). We took into consideration women aged 20-24 years, comparing three surveys from 1999, 2004, and 2012. Met...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Espinel-Flores, V, Gotsens, M, Puig-Barrachina, V, Leon-Gomez, BB, Peralta, A, Perez, G
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:España
Institución:Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau)
Repositorio:r-IIB SANT PAU. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica del Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau
OAI Identifier:oai:iibsantpau.fundanetsuite.com:p1282
Acceso en línea:https://iibsantpau.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=1282
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Inequalities
Socioeconomic factors
Sexual behaviour
Trends
Teenage pregnancy
Ecuador
Descripción
Sumario:Objectives To describe trends in teenage motherhood (TM), based on the socioeconomic groups teenagers belong to, and factors related to their first experience of heterosexual intercourse (FEHI). We took into consideration women aged 20-24 years, comparing three surveys from 1999, 2004, and 2012. Methods We obtained data from the Ecuadorian Demographic and Health Surveys about 4,696 women aged 20-24 years who had given birth as teenagers. Prevalence ratios and their confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated to estimate changes in socioeconomic inequalities and factors related to the FEHI. Results The prevalence of TM increased from 48% in 1999 to 60% in 2012 among women with complete primary education. The social gradient among socioeconomic groups were sustained. We detected no changes in the socioeconomic inequalities characterizing TM, and in the factors related to the FEHI across the three studies in Ecuador. Conclusions Socioeconomic inequalities in TM and disadvantageous circumstances at FEHI remained unchanged for 14 years. Some factors are vital for reducing teenage motherhood in Ecuador: gender-equitable economic development, access to comprehensive-sexual education, contraception, health services, and safe abortion.