A panorama on Comprehensive Sex Education, desire and prospective pregnancy among adolescents in Querétaro, Mexico

Abstract

Quantitative research was conducted with 321 high school students and two teachers, to recognize desire and prospective pregnancy among adolescents, identify the characteristics of Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) that take place in the school, and locate the main sources of information for adolescents on sexuality issues. Among the students who expect to have children (75.4%), the age chosen to reproduce was 25.57, but 4% of the sample considered doing it at ages compatible with Adolescent Pregnancy (AP). The main source of information on sexuality was the mother (46.7%). Only 12.5% of the students reported that all the CSE content had been addressed in class. The topic discussed most often was the correct use of the condom (95%), and the least discussed was pleasure (35.6%). Women are more informed about types of violence and how to avoid them (78.4% men vs. 88.0% women, X² = 5.11, GL = 1, p = 0.02). We concluded that the CSE is still deficient and reproduces gender stereotypes, and recommended redoubling efforts to help adolescents make informed decisions.