Contraception in Mexican adolescents in upper secondary schools: use and unmet needs

Objective. To describe sexual behavior and contraceptive use in adolescent students. Materials and methods. National representative survey in upper secondary schools in Mexico 2014. Logistic regressions identify the factors associated with contraceptive use and unmet needs for contraception (UNC). Results. For male adolescents, non-contraceptive use in the last sexual relation is associated with non-contraceptive use in the sexual debut (OR=11.5; IC95%:5.6,23.4) and not recognizing effective contraceptive methods (OR=2.4;IC95%:1.04,5.5). For female adolescents, non-contraceptive use is associated with non contraceptive use in sexual debut (OR=4.5;IC95%:2.3,8.4) and low self-efficacy towards condom use and negotiation (OR=3.1; IC95%:I.1,8.2). UNC were associated with insecure attitudes towards condom use and negotiation (OR=3.5;IC95%:1.3,9.4), non -contraceptive use in sexual debut (OR=9.0;IC95%:2.5,32.4) and use of alcohol or drugs during sexual relations (OR=3.0;IC95%:I.1,8.1). Conclusions. Strategies to ensure contraceptive use from sexual debut onwards are required, promoting self-efficacy and safe sex practices among adolescents.