Latino Teens Say Parents Most Influence Their Decisions About Sex

New National Survey of Latino Teens and Parents Released

WASHINGTON, May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Latino teens cite their parents
more than any other source when asked who most influences their decisions
about sex. These and other findings are in a new survey commissioned by The
National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and the National
Council of La Raza (NCLR).

The overall teen birth rate in the United States is on the increase after 14
straight years of decline and, at present, Latino teens have the highest rate
of teen pregnancy and births among all racial/ethnic groups. The National
Campaign estimates that fully 53% of Latinas become pregnant as teens.

Other findings from the survey of Latino teens and adults include:
-- 49% of Latino teens say parents most influence their decisions about
sex
compared to, for example, 14% who cited friends, 6% other family
members, 3% religious leaders, 2% teachers, and 2% the media.
-- Although three-quarters of Latino teens say their parents have talked
to
them about sex and relationships, only half (49%) say their parents
have
talked to them about contraception.
-- 74% of Latino teens believe that parents send one message about sex to
their sons and a different message altogether to their daughters.
-- Latino teens in this survey report that the most common reason why
teens
do not use contraception is because they are afraid their parents
might
find out.
-- 72% of sexually experienced teens say they wish they had waited
longer.
-- 34% of Latino teens believe that being a teen parent would prevent
them
from reaching their goals; 47% say being a teen parent would simply
delay them from reaching their goals.

-- 76% of Latino teens say it is important for a couple to be married
before starting a family or having a child.

"While Latino teen pregnancy has gained national attention in recent years,
little work has been done to understand subgroup differences and similarities
within the Latino community," said Ruthie Flores, Senior Manager, of The
National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy's Latino Initiative.
"We hope this survey shines much-needed light on the beliefs and attitudes of
Latino teens and parents and helps inform teen pregnancy prevention efforts
and messages nationwide."

"Scant attention has been paid to what motivates the behavior of Latino teens
with regard to relationships," said Maria Rosa, DrPH, Ph.D., National Council
of La Raza, Vice President, Institute for Hispanic Health. "The poll's
findings are a catalyst for an important and much needed conversation about
how to reverse the rising rates of teen pregnancy in the Latino community."

Findings from the survey were released at a Latino Leaders Network Issue Hour
on teen pregnancy in the Latino community that took place on Capitol Hill on
Tuesday, May 19, 2009.

The survey examines the beliefs and attitudes within the Latino community
about teen pregnancy and related issues. The event was hosted by the Latino
Leaders Network in partnership with The National Campaign. At the event, a
prominent panel of Latino experts discussed the survey's findings and efforts
to prevent teen pregnancy in the Latino community.

The discussion was moderated by Mickey Ibarra, founder of the Latino Leaders
Network and included the following speakers:
-- The Honorable Ben Lujan, U.S. Congressman, New Mexico's 3rd
District
-- The Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard, U.S. Congresswoman,
California's 34th District
-- The Honorable Nydia M. Velazquez, U.S. Congresswoman, New York's
12th District
-- The Honorable Ana Sol Gutierrez, State Delegate, Maryland's 18th
District
-- Ruthie Flores, Senior Manager, Latino Initiative, The National
Campaign
to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
-- Maria Rosa, DrPH, Ph.D., National Council of La Raza (NCLR), Institute
for Hispanic Health

-- Alma Morales Riojas, President/CEO, MANA, A National Latina
Organization

About the Survey: The survey was conducted by International Communications
Research (ICR), an independent research company with extensive polling
experience. Telephone surveys of 759 Latino teens and 915 Latino adults with
children in the household under age 18 took place in July and August of 2008.

For more information about The National Campaign, the National Council of La
Raza, and the Latino Leaders Network, please visit the following websites:
TheNationalCampaign.org, NCLR.org, and LatinoLeadersNetwork.org.

SOURCE The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy

Carlos Pinto of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy,
+1-202-478-8561, cpinto@TheNC.org