title: [Mexican adolescentes' goals as determinants in the prevention of early pregnancies].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to explore adolescents' intentions related to the early formation of a family.
  
  
  METHODS
  We administered a survey to students in eight schools in Morelos and Mexico City, in 2010. We analyzed intentions of marrying or having a child and fitted an exploratory path model to assess predictors of the intentions of having a child before the age of 20 (n=2974).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Around 77% of adolescents expect to have their first child at 20 years or later; 21% show ambivalence or incongruence regarding this, whereas 2% expect to have a child before the age of 20. Parents' expectations for their child's education influence the importance that adolescents give to education. The latter promotes the idea of postponing childbearing until 20 years or later (β=0.13).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to prevent early pregnancies, interventions and programs should encourage the construction of personal and professional goals.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: Erika E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Atienzo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Campero
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Nutrición y Salud, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: Ana Lilia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lozada
authors.affiliation: Programa Interdisciplinario de Estudios de la Mujer, Centro de Estudios Sociológicos, El Colegio de México, México.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herrera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires