ABSTRACT
Unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), infertility, and cervical cancer are some of the short-and long-term adverse health consequences faced by young girls who engage in early sexual intercourse (i.e., before 17 years of age). Latina1 adolescents are especially vulnerable to these adverse consequences because of the added burdens of poverty, discrimination, changing cultural norms, and barriers to culturally and linguistically appropriate quality health care (Centers for Disease Control, 1992; Darabi & Ortiz, 1987; Hein, 1989; National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS], 1990). Since health behaviors learned during adolescence persist in adulthood, the ability to influence positive values, attitudes, and behaviors related to health in general, and sexual behavior specifically, can contribute to a healthy and productive adulthood. Further, since health and health behavior cannot be addressed in isolation from daily threats of the environment, knowledge about Latina sexual behaviors and the biologic, social, and cultural factors that influence them is necessary to guide adolescents, parents, educators, health professionals, and policymakers to address this issue of major health and social significance to Latino populations.
