Decisionmaking Regarding Unwanted Pregnancy among Adolescents in Mexico City: A Qualitative Study

Adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean confront difficult decisions when faced with unwanted pregnancies, especially given the region's legal restrictions on and widespread cultural opposition to abortion. Little research has been conducted on pregnancy decisionmaking among young people...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Studies in family planning 2012-03, Vol.43 (1), p.43-56
Main Authors: Tatum, Carrie, Rueda, Marcela, Bain, Jennifer, Clyde, Jessie, Carino, Giselle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abortion
Abortion, Induced
Adolescent
Adolescents
Autonomy
Caribbean region
Counseling
Counselling
Cultural norms
Culture
Decision Making
Decisions
Education
Family
Family planning
Female
Focus Groups
Friendship
Health Professions
Health services
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Latin America
Legal abortion
Medical service
Mexico
Mexico - epidemiology
Mexico City, Mexico
Parent-Child Relations
Parents
Peers
Pregnancy
Pregnancy in Adolescence - psychology
Pregnancy, Unwanted - psychology
Public health
Qualitative Research
Reproductive health
Social Support
Teenage pregnancy
Unwanted Pregnancy
Urban areas
Youth
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Summary:Adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean confront difficult decisions when faced with unwanted pregnancies, especially given the region's legal restrictions on and widespread cultural opposition to abortion. Little research has been conducted on pregnancy decisionmaking among young people in this region. This study examines the role of peers, partners, family members, and health-care providers in adolescents' decisionmaking regarding pregnancy continuation or termination in Mexico City shortly after abortion was legalized in 2007. Qualitative in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted in 2009 with participants aged 13—17 who experienced an unwanted pregnancy. Although participants were able to formulate preferences regarding pregnancy resolution, parents' wishes usually prevailed when their wishes conflicted. Peers were generally found to be supportive, whereas the role of partners varied. Results indicate the need for comprehensive sexuality education to promote adolescents' autonomy, mechanisms other than legal mandates to encourage constructive parental involvement, and confidential counseling from health professionals offering options and supporting adolescents' ability to act on their decisions.
ISSN:0039-3665
1728-4465
DOI:10.1111/j.1728-4465.2012.00301.x