Participants had low knowledge about SRH but high motivation to educate children and adolescents on these topics, indicating potential for SRH campaigns in this rural, mostly indigenous community in northern Mexico.
SRH knowledge was low among quantitative study participants in this rural, mostly indigenous community in northern Mexico.
Participants with children reported having a median of three children, with a range of 1 to 11.
Most participants believed children should learn about SRH between the ages of 10 and 15 years, and 94% felt that parents should deliver such education.
Health education materials in the form of an SRH educational pamphlet were well-received by community members in the qualitative phase.
The combination of low SRH knowledge and high motivation to educate younger generations indicates potential for SRH campaigns in this community.
Rural, indigenous populations in Mexico face barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health resources and services.
This research suggests that people living in a rural, mostly indigenous farming community in Baja California, Mexico have limited knowledge about sexual and reproductive health (SRH), including topics like contraception and HIV/STI testing. In a survey of 217 community members — most of whom were women with a median age of 30 — researchers found that few people had sought out contraceptives or HIV/STI testing, and overall awareness of SRH topics was low. Despite this, the community showed strong interest in learning more and in teaching children about these topics, with 94% believing parents should be the ones to provide SRH education and most agreeing children should start learning between ages 10 and 15. In a follow-up qualitative phase, 39 community members participated in individual interviews and focus group discussions to give feedback on an educational pamphlet about SRH that was created based on the survey findings. The pamphlet was well-received and sparked enthusiasm among participants to learn more and share the information with others. This suggests that community-based health education materials, when designed with local input, can be an acceptable and promising tool for improving SRH awareness in underserved indigenous communities. This research matters because indigenous rural communities in Mexico often lack access to SRH services and culturally appropriate educational resources. The findings highlight a gap between existing knowledge and community need, while also pointing to a clear opportunity: the community's own motivation to learn and educate their children could be a powerful foundation for future SRH health promotion campaigns tailored to their specific cultural and social context.
Espinosa da Silva C, Santibanez M, Lee A, Pacheco L, Brodine S, Fraga M, et al.. (2025). Sexual and reproductive health awareness and practices among adolescents and adults in a rural farming community in Baja California, Mexico: a quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional study.. Sexual and reproductive health matters. https://doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2024.2433824