Sexual Health

[Exploring the sexual and reproductive health of migrant adolescents in Chile: insights from the 10th National Youth Survey].

TL;DR

Migrant adolescents in Chile show significant differences from Chilean adolescents in health insurance coverage, sexual behaviors, contraceptive use, and having children, with one-third of migrant adolescents not registered in the health insurance system.

Key Findings

6.4% of the adolescent sample were foreigners, with Venezuelan adolescents representing the largest migrant group.

  • Total sample consisted of 3,375 adolescents aged 19 or younger from the 10th National Youth Survey
  • 6.4% of adolescents were foreigners
  • Venezuelan adolescents comprised 36.98% of the foreign adolescent population
  • Study used a cross-sectional and analytical design

Approximately one-third of migrant adolescents were not registered in the health insurance system.

  • Differences were found in health insurance coverage between Chilean and foreign adolescents
  • The paper describes this as 'concerning' that one-third of migrant adolescents lack health insurance registration
  • Lack of health insurance registration was identified as a barrier to accessing health services
  • Analysis was performed using Rao-Scott statistical test and adjusted Odds Ratio calculation

Significant differences were found in sexual behaviors between migrant and Chilean adolescents.

  • Differences in sexual behaviors were identified between Chilean and foreign adolescents
  • Authors attributed differences to possible 'cultural and social influences, as well as inequities in access to healthcare'
  • Statistical analysis included descriptive analysis, Rao-Scott statistical test, and adjusted Odds Ratio calculations using STATA v12
  • Specific sexual behavior variables were analyzed as part of sexual and reproductive health outcomes

Differences in contraceptive use were found between migrant and Chilean adolescents.

  • Contraceptive use was among the key variables analyzed for both Chilean and foreign adolescents
  • Differences in contraceptive use may reflect cultural and social influences as well as inequities in access to healthcare
  • Barriers to accessing health services were noted as exposing migrant adolescents to risks including unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections/HIV
  • Analysis was conducted on sociodemographic and sexual and reproductive health variables

Differences in having children were found between migrant and Chilean adolescents.

  • Having children was one of the reproductive variables showing differences between Chilean and foreign adolescents
  • Differences in reproductive variables were interpreted as potentially reflecting cultural and social influences as well as inequities in healthcare access
  • Migration was framed as a phenomenon with an impact on the health of adolescents, including exposure to risks such as unwanted pregnancies
  • The study analyzed both sexual and reproductive health variables across migrant status groups

What This Means

This research analyzed data from Chile's 10th National Youth Survey to compare the sexual and reproductive health of migrant and Chilean adolescents. The study included 3,375 young people aged 19 and under, of whom about 6.4% were foreigners — mostly from Venezuela. The researchers found notable differences between the two groups in several areas: whether they had health insurance, their sexual behaviors, their use of contraception, and whether they already had children. One of the most striking findings was that roughly one-third of migrant adolescents were not enrolled in Chile's health insurance system. This lack of coverage is significant because it can prevent young people from accessing healthcare, including sexual and reproductive health services. The researchers suggest that differences in sexual and reproductive health outcomes between migrant and Chilean youth likely reflect a combination of cultural and social factors as well as unequal access to healthcare. This research suggests that migrant adolescents in Chile face particular vulnerabilities related to sexual and reproductive health, partly due to structural barriers like lack of health coverage. The findings point to a need for policies and programs that improve healthcare access and registration for migrant youth, in order to reduce risks such as unintended pregnancies, sexual violence, and sexually transmitted infections.

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Citation

Leal Fuentes I, Molina González T. (2025). [Exploring the sexual and reproductive health of migrant adolescents in Chile: insights from the 10th National Youth Survey].. Andes pediatrica : revista Chilena de pediatria. https://doi.org/10.32641/andespediatr.v95i4.5095