Latino Sexual Behavior

Does being a Latino youth, specifically Mexican American, or of Mexican descent, increase the likelihood of taking part in risky sexual behaviors? Several articles I came across while reviewing relevant literature support the idea that a person’s culture is, in fact, a very important determinant of the types of health behavior they will participate in. According to the United States Census Bureau, people who identify themselves as non-White, Hispanic or Latino are currently the fastest growing minority group in the United States. They are expected to make up approximately twenty five percent of the U.S. population by 2050 which will make them the largest of the minority groups; with the youth of the population reaching twenty five percent

Latina women in the United States are at higher risk for unplanned, or even planned, pregnancy during their adolescent years. Moreover, young Latinos, both male and female, are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted diseases and infections (STDs and STIs), including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (Flores, Eyre and Millstein).
An article published in 2010 by the Journal of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health report Latino women being almost three times more likely to give birth between the ages of 15 and 19 compared to non-Latina Whites in the same age range; overall they have the highest pregnancy and birthrate among all ethnic groups in the United States (Deardorff et al.) In the last 15 years, birth rates have been rapidly decreasing in both White and Black teens. While the direction of the trend is the same for Latinas, their birth rates are decreasing at a significantly slow pace (Minnis et

Machismo seems to be more pervasive and “main-stream” than marianismo. It also has had, until recently, a negative connotation based on traits that include an attitude that demands complete submissiveness to anyone they feel are inferior. Machismo has been linked to heaving drinking and risky sex practice (Bourdeau, Thomas and Long). In addition, Latino males are the least likely to use condoms and have longer periods of unprotected sex compared to those of non Latino descent