title: Sexual onset and contraceptive use among adolescents from poor neighbourhoods in Managua, Nicaragua.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of teenage pregnancies in Nicaragua is the highest in Latin-America. This study aimed to gain insight into factors which determine the sexual behaviours concerned.
  
  
  METHODS
  From July until August 2011, a door-to-door survey was conducted among adolescents living in randomly selected poor neighbourhoods of Managua. Logistic regression was used to analyse factors related to sexual onset and contraceptive use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 2803 adolescents were analysed. Of the 475 and 299 sexually active boys and girls, 43% and 54%, respectively, reported contraceptive use. Sexual onset was positively related to increasing age, male sex, alcohol consumption and not living with the parents. Catholic boys and boys never feeling peer pressure to have sexual intercourse were more likely to report consistent condom use. Having a partner and feeling comfortable talking about sexuality with the partner were associated with hormonal contraception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data identified associates of adolescents' sexual behaviour related to personal characteristics (sex and alcohol use), to the interaction with significant others (parents, partners, peers) and to the environment (housing condition, religion). We interpreted those associates within the context of the rapidly changing society and the recently implemented health system reform in Nicaragua.
authors.affiliation: * International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH), Ghent University , Belgium.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Decat
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Meyer
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jaruseviciene
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orozco
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibarra
authors.forename: Zoyla
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Segura
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: Kristien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Michielsen
authors.forename: Marleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Temmerman
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Degomme
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009527:Nicaragua; D000067074:Peer Influence; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D012071:Religion and Sex; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners
keywords: Adolescents; Contraception; Latin America; Nicaragua; Pregnancy in adolescence; Sexual behaviour