The perceptions of adolescents concerning sexual and reproductive rights that favor the prevention of pregnancy at this stage

Objective: To describe an adolescent group’s perception concerning sexual and reproductive rights that favor the prevention of maternity and paternity in this stage of life. Method: Qualitative, phenomenological study; the information was collected from 20 adolescents enrolled through focus groups. The data analysis was done through open coding, category confirmation, and participant descriptions. Results Limitations in knowledge about the general concept of Sexual and Reproductive Rights were observed, with participants associating their rights exclusively with sexual relations. Nonetheless, the questions used to guide the focus groups were key to facilitate the discussion and the expression of their perception on the subject of study. Conclusions: It was observed that participants perceive the right to strengthen self-esteem as fundamental for the prevention of maternity and paternity in adolescence for several reasons: it provides self-confidence; facilitates decision making on whether or not to have sex and using contraceptives; decreases the likelihood of allowing others to pressure them to have sex; and makes it easy to tell parents or teachers if they are being pressured by someone in this regard. They emphasize the importance of promoting self-esteem in women because they are the ones who receive the most pressure to have sex and are at the highest risk for being raped. They point out that receiving information about sexuality and reproduction provides knowledge that facilitates making decisions to prevent motherhood and fatherhood at this stage; but they also recognize that the information they receive in adolescence is not always sufficient, truthful, or useful.