Sexual Activity, Union and Childbearing Among Adolescent Women in the Americas

The likelihood of a woman having sexual intercourse before age 20 ranges from 46-63% in Brazil Colombia the Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Mexico Peru and Trinidad and Tobago according to data from the Demographic and Health Surveys. The probability of entering a union prior to that time is somewhat lower ranging from 36-60%. And the likelihood of having a 1st child before age 20 ranges from 30-50%. In some of the countries women ages 20-24 are less likely than those ages 40-45 to have experienced all 3 events before age 20 but in others there has been virtually no change or the decline has been erratic. Overall teens in all the countries are better educated today than they were 25 year ago. However in 7 of the 9 countries among women with a primary education or less those ages 20-24 are more likely than those in the 40-44 group to have had 1st intercourse 1st union and 1st birth before age 20. Among women who have had secondary schooling or more the relationship between education and the likelihood of these 3 events is more erratic. Only in Colombia did the likelihood of all 3 decrease between the youngest and oldest cohorts of women with secondary schooling or more. (authors)