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Davidson College

Publication Date

Fall 2017

Program Name

Chile: Public Health, Traditional Medicine, and Community Empowerment

Abstract

El embarazo adolescente sigue siendo un problema de salud pública al nivel nacional en Chile. Aunque por ley, todos tienen el derecho a una educación sexual y a elegir un método de control de fecundidad, todavía existen casos de embarazos no planificados, particularmente entre adolescentes. Este estudio investigó las barreras que limitan el acceso a métodos anticonceptivos para adolescentes, enfocando primariamente en el sistema público en la Región Metropolitana. Específicamente, la investigación consideró las adolescentes de la comuna de Macul, utilizando muestras de un colegio local y dos centros de salud familiar para hacer conclusiones. La investigadora entrevistó a matronas en dos CESFAM y a funcionarios del colegio. También se aplicó una encuesta a una muestra de mujeres adolescentes, alumnas del colegio para recolectar información sobre el perfil sociodemográfico de las alumnas y las barreras que se enfrentan. La investigación concluyó que aunque las alumnas de este liceo usan anticonceptivos con bastante frecuencia, todavía existen barreras para solicitar estos métodos. Las barreras más importante fueron una falta de conocimiento del sistema de salud, sentimientos de vergüenza al pedir los anticonceptivos, el horario limitado del centro de atención, y un rechazo del centro de salud por prejuicio o por falta de inscripción correcta en el lugar. Palabras claves: Salud pública, educación de salud, obstetricia y ginecología, embarazo adolescente, anticoncepción

Teenage pregnancy continues to be a public health problem at the national level in Chile. Although by law, every person has the right to a sexual education and to select a method by which to control fertility, still there exist cases of unplanned pregnancies, especially among adolescents. This study investigated the barriers that limit adolescents’ access to contraceptive methods, focusing primarily on the public system in the Metropolitan Region. Specifically, the investigation considered adolescents from the community of Macul, utilizing samples from a local high school and two primary healthcare centers in order to draw conclusions. The investigator interviewed obstetric nurse midwives in two primary healthcare centers as well as employees of the high school of interest. A survey was also applied in a sample of female students in the high school in order to collect information regarding the profile of the students and the barriers they face. The investigation concluded that although the students of this high school frequently use contraceptive methods, there still exist barriers to soliciting these methods. The most inhibitive barriers were a lack of understanding of the healthcare system, feelings of shame or embarassment in asking for contraceptives, the limited schedule of the healthcare center, and a rejection from the healthcare center due to prejudice or a lack of correct registration in the center.

Disciplines

Community-Based Research | Family, Life Course, and Society | Gender and Sexuality | Health and Physical Education | Latin American Studies | Medicine and Health | Public Health Education and Promotion | Women's Health

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