Correlates of early sexual activity among Hispanic children in middle adolescence.
OBJECTIVE
We analyzed early sexual activity among Hispanic 14 to 15-year-old adolescents residing in a poor neighborhood in Puerto Rico.


METHODS
Information from a sample of 325 adolescents was collected from a randomized sample of community households. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the variables that help explained adolescents' sexual behavior.


RESULTS
Adolescents whose parents reported poor communication and poor parent control were more likely to engage in early sexual activity that those peers that did not report this type of family relationship. Adolescents who reported poor parent bonding and lack of discipline were more likely to engage in early sexual relationships.


CONCLUSIONS
Intervention and prevention programs need to be aware and address the role of the Hispanic culture in gender differences in early sexual activity in adolescence. If sexual norms related to gender role are changing in Puerto Rico, is a question that needs to be answered in future research.
Robles
Rafaela R
RR
Center for Addiction Studies, School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, PO Box 60-327, Bayamón, Puerto Rico 00960-6032. rrobles@uccaribe.edu
Matos
Tomás D
TD
Reyes
Juan C
JC
Colón
Héctor M
HM
Negrón
Juan
J
Calderón
José
J
Shepard
Elizabeth W
EW
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D003075:Coitus; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011647:Puerto Rico