title: [Family, friends, and other sources of information associated with the initiation of sexual relations by adolescents in El Salvador].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to verify the influence of messages Salvadorian youth receive about sexuality, affection, and leisure from family, friends, and the media on the initiation of sexual activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study based on a representative sample of 2 615 students (from 13 to 19 years of age) in El Salvador. A random systematic sampling was used to select 30 schools. Sociodemographic aspects, lifestyles, and sources of information on sexuality and love used by the young people were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of the young people studied was 15 (SD = 1.8). In all, 638 (24.4%) of the young people stated that they had had sexual relations. The following factors are associated with a greater probability of having had sexual relations: a perception that siblings (OR = 1.8, CI 95%: 1.2-2.7) or friends (OR = 1.7, CI 95%: 1.3-2.2) encourage them to have sex. Protective factors were found to be the supervision of parents (OR = 0.5, CI 95%: 0.4-0.7); messages received from friends that encourage abstinence (OR = 0.7, CI 95%: 0.6-1.0) or from siblings (OR = 0.7, CI 95%: 0.5-0.8); and favorable messages related to marriage received from parents (OR = 0.4, CI 95%: 0.3-0.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Messages from family and friends are factors that seem to influence the initiation of sexual activity by young people. Sexual health promotion programs in El Salvador should take these factors into account.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, España. mcanela@unav.es
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Canela
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: López-Del Burgo
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carlos
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calatrava
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osorio
authors.forename: Jokin de
authors.initials: Jd
authors.lastname: Irala
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001290:Attitude; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004544:El Salvador; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006184:Habits; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008402:Mass Media; D012929:Psychological Distance; D012746:Sexual Abstinence / Q000523:psychology; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching; D055815:Young Adult