An Ecological, Risk-Factor Examination of Latino Adolescents’ Engagement in Sexual Activity

Latinos represent the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population under the age of 21. By 2030, the number of Latino children and youth will reach 9.6 million-more than double their number of 4.7 million in 1980 (Duany and Pittman, 1990). While Latino families appear to have adapted to their circumstances in ways that reflect sources of strength that need to be built upon rather than sources of weakness that need to be eliminated (Baca Zinn, 1990; Hayes-Bautista, Schink, and Chapa, 1988), Latino youth appear to be engaged in increasingly greater rates of risk behaviors that negatively impact their life chances (Johnson, Miranda, Sherman, and Weill, 1991).