Académique Documents
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From the *Ined, Paris, France; Flacso, Mexico City, Mexico; and School of
Psychology, Universidad Catolica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile.
Copyright 2009 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
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TABLE 1. First Sexual and Reproductive Events of Women, by Age Groups and Educational Level, in Selected Latin
American Countries
Women
Bolivia
2003 DHS
Colombia
2005 DHS
Haiti
2005 DHS
Honduras
2005 DHS
Nicaragua
2001 DHS
Peru
2000 DHS
Dominican
Republic
2002 DHS
Mexico
2003 ENSAR
2673
18.6
17.6
18.0
20.6
20.7
19.0
19.2
24.3
20.9
19.4
19.8
24.8
2.3
43.1
1477
18.8
18.3
18.7
21.2
20.9
20.3
19.9
23.6
21.8
21.4
20.3
24.5
2.7
33.1
5652
17.9
15.9
17.0
18.8
21.8
18.4
19.6
24.6
21.5
18.5
19.5
24.9
1.9
37.4
4379
18.8
17.2
18.6
21.5
21.1
19.5
20.7
24.1
21.7
20.2
21.2
25.0
1.5
32.6
1761
18.0
16.9
18.6
20.1
20.1
18.4
22.1
25.7
22.2
19.7
24.6
2.2
33.4
939
18.6
18.4
20.7
20.5
21.1
20.7
23.6
25.3
22.6
22.3
26.1
26.2
1.8
26.6
3294
18.2
16.9
18.2
21.4
18.8
17.3
18.7
22.5
20.0
18.5
20.0
23.9
2.7
49.7
1585
18.2
17.2
19.0
22.4
18.7
17.7
19.4
22.7
20.1
19.0
20.4
23.7
3.2
48.6
1943
17.8
16.2
17.9
20.9
18.0
16.2
17.9
21.5
19.5
18.0
19.5
23.2
5.2
53.7
1066
18.1
16.9
19.1
22.1
18.4
17.1
19.4
22.2
20.0
18.8
20.5
24.2
5.5
48.4
4245
19.3
17.1
17.6
21.5
21.8
18.3
19.0
25.0
22.2
19.1
19.7
25.4
1.2
31.4
2529
19.0
17.5
18.4
22.0
21.2
19.4
20.3
24.6
21.8
20.2
20.8
25.2
1.7
34.9
3624
18.2
16.3
17.8
20.9
18.9
16.6
18.5
22.6
20.5
18.3
19.9
23.9
3.6
45.3
2201
18.2
17.0
19.3
22.7
18.7
17.3
19.8
23.5
21.0
19.4
22.2
25.7
4.4
41.5
3140
19.4
17.2
18.4
20.7
21.2
18.0
19.9
23.2
21.9
18.7
20.0
23.7
0.8
33.1
1774
19.3
18.1
18.9
21.6
20.8
18.9
20.2
22.8
21.3
20.0
20.3
23.6
1.9
39.0
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TABLE 2. First Sexual and Reproductive Events of Men by Age Groups and Educational Level in Bolivia, Haiti, and
Dominican Republic
Men 25-to 29-Year Old
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Bolivia
2003 DHS
Haiti
2005 DHS
Republica
Dominicana
2002 DHS
16.7
16.5
16.4
17.1
22.9
21.0
21.0
25.6
22.0
21.4
21.4
23.6
15.7
16.3
15.6
15.3
26.3
24.5
26.1
16.2
16.2
16.3
15.8
22.3
21.8
20.6
24.8
25.4
24.2
23.9
Bolivia
2003 DHS
Haiti
2005 DHS
Republica
Dominicana
2002 DHS
17.5
17.9
17.1
17.2
23.1
22.5
22.0
25.1
23.7
23.1
23.1
25.6
16.9
16.9
17.2
25.6
25.1
26.9
16.9
17.1
16.5
17.1
23.5
21.8
25.0
26.1
25.1
24.3
28.7
27.7
Copyright 2009 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
TABLE 3. Adult Sexual and Reproductive Events of Women, by Age Groups and Educational Level, in Selected Latin
American Countries
Women
Bolivia
Colombia
Haiti
Honduras Nicaragua
Peru
2003 DHS 2005 DHS 2005 DHS 2005 DHS 2001 DHS 2000 DHS
Dominican
Republic
Mexico
2002 DHS 2003 ENSAR
5652
12.3
24.3
17.8
6.3
6.3
10.7
8.3
4.0
87.5
84.4
91.3
85.8
1761
29.5
40.5
23.9
7.4
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.0
56.2
57.1
55.5
55.1
3294
18.7
23.0
17.9
12.4
5.5
6.4
6.5
1.5
75.3
75.5
78.2
67.7
1943
21.9
28.3
21.2
12.5
7.7
8.7
10.4
2.2
79.6
79.3
84.2
73.7
4245
5.2
11.3
8.1
3.2
1.4
4.4
2.2
0.2
64.3
56.7
70.8
63.3
3624
30.6
43.0
34.9
15.7
14.6
26.0
15.2
3.1
81.4
86.5
83.7
74.9
3140
11.8
15.8
11.5
11.0
7.1
12.3
9.7
4.6
73.7
69.1
75.1
74.2
60.6
20.3
6.9
12.2
15.7
8.2
14.8
18.0
62.5
20.8
0.3
16.5
10.1
2.8
13.7
25.8
71.4
5.2
1.3
22.1
4.0
2.3
4.9
5.0
74.2
3.1
2.9
19.7
4.9
2.7
5.7
7.3
65.8
3.5
7.6
23.1
8.0
2.6
6.1
10.5
69.4
8.9
6.9
14.8
5.8
4.4
6.4
6.7
9.8
10.1*
3.7
6.6
4379
21.2
27.9
20.6
15.3
31.7
31.7
31.2
32.6
14.1
15.6
15.9
9.6
86.4
82.7
87.8
88.1
2.0*
939
44.2
45.4
39.4
17.1
37.8
38.1
36.5
35.0
0.7
0.8
0.2
0.0
40.4
38.4
50.0
77.8
9.0
1585
30.3
31.7
30.9
23.1
34.7
36.3
33.5
33.2
9.2
7.2
12.7
10.4
67.9
61.1
77.4
75.5
1066
41.1
40.4
43.1
41.0
34.3
35.3
32.5
31.4
8.2
6.7
12.0
7.5
73.6
68.3
84.6
75.7
2529
10.9
12.5
11.4
8.4
34.9
37.5
34.3
33.7
2.4
2.3
3.2
1.8
56.1
39.0
60.9
71.1
2201
45.7
50.4
46.1
31.2
30.8
30.3
29.8
32.9
30.2
32.1
35.8
18.6
78.7
79.9
80.5
73.3
61.4
7.0
5.8
25.8
69.4
6.3
0.1
24.2
65.7
2.3
0.8
31.2
60.6
1.6
1.2
36.6
70.6
0.5
2.5
26.3
66.9
2.6
5.0
25.5
12.4
6.7
4.5
5.7
3.2
4.6
2.0
10.4
1.9
7.2
2.6
3.6
1774
17.3
16.3
18.4
17.5
31.9
33.7
31.3
31.3
16.4
13.6
18.7
17.9
76.2
65.2
84.4
83.1
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TABLE 4. Adult Sexual and Reproductive Events of Men by Age Groups and Educational Level, in Bolivia, Haiti, and the
Dominican Republic
Age Group 2529
Men
Size
Median age at last child
Educational level 1
Educational level 2
Educational level 3
Ever separated (%)
Educational level 1
Educational level 2
Educational level 3
Had intercourse with cohabiting partner and other partner
in the twelve months (%)*
Type of partner at last intercourse in the last 12 months (%)
Husband/cohabiting partner
Fiance
Other
No intercourse in the preceding year
Use of condom at last intercourse (%)
Educational level 1
Educational level 2
Educational level 3
Never used condom (%)
Educational level 1
Educational level 2
Educational level 3
Ever had forced intercourse from husband/cohabiting partner (%)
Ever had forced intercourse from other than
husband/cohabiting partner (%)
Bolivia
2003 DHS
Haiti
2005 DHS
Dominican
Republic
2002 DHS
806
8.9
13.2
6.8
7.1
2.3
597
7.2
10.2
5.7
5.7
4.4
377
22.0
23.1
30.8
12.3
14.1
483
39.1
40.3
38.0
36.6
23.2
19.3
33.0
23.0
2.9
382
32.4
36.5
21.4
10.4
185
35.8
35.7
35.4
37.5
52.0
54.6
71.3
18.3
19.9
68.7
14.8
10.5
6.0
14.4
6.3
12.1
20.9
43.9
71.1
52.0
22.1
0.9
40.0
46.1
4.3
9.6
28.8
10.3
30.8
57.5
54.6
12.4
23.9
9.1
20.4
21.7
15.4
23.2
21.6
26.9
22.4
13.7
80.0
1.9
6.0
12.2
3.4
1.4
1.3
8.3
67.8
85.8
63.6
39.4
1.1
80.4
11.2
2.4
6.0
4.9
3.5
7.3
25.2
82.5
1.6
10.4
5.4
5.7
6.5
4.1
4.8
44.9
57.4
32.3
19.1
3.8
7.9
2.1
4.4
Bolivia
2003 DHS
Haiti
2005 DHS
Dominican
Republic
2002 DHS
*In the case of Haiti, the other partner is a second cohabiting partner.
In the case of Haiti, no distinction is made between forced sex by cohabiting partner and by other partner.
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Measurement of Homosexual/Bisexual
Behavior in Latin American Countries
This last section focuses on describing and characterizing the prevalence of homosexuality/bisexuality in Latin
America, from data collected through questionnaires administered to the general population on a local basis. Research on
Latin American homosexuality is greatly increasing. Many
studies focus on male homosexuality and HIV prevalence
among the male homosexual population.8,26,27 Surveys on
sexual behavior administered to general population, focusing
on male and female homosexual/bisexual prevalence and
attitudes toward it, are rather recent and began after the AIDS
outbreak in the 1990s.25,28 Various findings in other countries
reveal that asking about homosexuality/bisexuality may be
a problem; this could have delayed the study of this issue on
a regional basis, given the sensitivity of the questions,
particularly in environments where homosexuality is strongly
stigmatized or punished. Sexual relations between women
have been less studied, though there is presently more research
reported in Latin America.29
Homosexuality/bisexuality frequency is difficult to
evaluate, and the results are subordinated to the cultural
contexts studied.25 Besides, reported frequency is associated
with the definitions of sex and the words or concepts used to
refer to what, in general terms, is currently known as men who
have sex with men (MSM).30,31 The MSM category is used in
epidemiology for HIV studies,30 omitting the prevalence of
female homosexuality. Homosexuality refers to a series of
constructs and ideas such as sexual desire, sexual behavior,
and sexual identity, none of them binary. Same-sex sexual
behavior exceeds by far homosexual identity. In the whole
world and in Latin America, a high percent of MSM are
married or have regular sexual relations with women as well.32
This bisexual behavior seems to be common in Latin
American societies.33 Regardless of the huge amount of relationships and connections between these concepts, homosexuality is still a source of stigma, prejudice, and discrimination
in the region.30,34
According to a recent metastudy that includes Latin
America, many studies on this issue have been conducted in
the region. They focus on MSM prevalence, with results
fluctuating from 6% to 20%, but little is known about the
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TABLE 5. Declaration of Homosexuality and Bisexuality in Latin American Countries (%) by Sex
Same-Sex Sexual
Partners in Lifetime
(Homosexual/
Bisexual)
Sexual Partners
in Past Year (only
Male/Male and
Female)
Survey
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Adolescents
Women
Adolescents
Men
Young Adults
Women
Young Adults
GRAVAD (2002)13*
Caceres et al, 199740
Kornblit et al35
Conasida, 1992/199336k
OPS/GTZ (2004)41{
OPS/GTZ (2004)
OPS/GTZ (2004)
OPS/GTZ (2004)
OPS/GTZ (2004)
OPS/GTZ (2004)
Brazil
Peru
Argentina
Mexico
Belice
Costa Rica
San Salvador
Honduras
Nicaragua
Panama
2.8
3, 0
0.4/2.1
1.6
2.1
2
1.3
2.9
2.2
2.8
0.3/0.5
5.2/10.4
2.6/0.3
0.3/13
0.7/3.7
*GRAVAD survey was done in Salvador de Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, and Porto Alegre, on the population from 18 to 24 years, N = 4633.
The survey was done in Lima, the capital city, on a 16- to 30-year-old population, N = 1218.
The Chilean study is part of the fifth National Survey for the Young on 15- to 49-year-old individuals throughout the country, N = 6345.
The Argentine study included 4000 individuals from 15 to 54 years throughout the country in cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants and province capitals. Men total: 1945.
k
This study was done in Mexico City on individuals sexually active in the last 5 years whose age ranged between 15 and 60 years, N = 8068. It included both men and women.
{This survey was done in Belice (Belice), San Jose (Costa Rica), San Salvador (El Salvador), Tegucigalpa (Honduras), Managua, Bluefields and Puerto Cabezas (Nicaragua), and
Panama. The target population was men from 15 to 44 years. Sample size varied between 291 in El Salvador to 600 in Nicaragua.
DISCUSSION
It should be noted first that this overview of Latin
American trends in sexual behavior draws mainly on data from
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and the Caribbean from Mesoamericawithout even mentioning the countries from the Southern Cone, which were not
part of the sample. There are large differences in the levels of
early sterilization (very high in Dominican Republic), of
separation (very low in Mexico), and of early unions (very
early in Mesoamerica) and in the reported levels of sexual
violence (very high reports in Haiti but also in Bolivia and
Colombia). These trends may reflect different stages of
development or of demographic transition, the varying
influence of family planning and reproductive policies, or
the ethnic composition of the population, which result in
different gender systems. From a gender perspective, many
data and indicators are missing, and it should be noted that this
region has few DHS surveys on men, in comparison with
Africa, for example.
Regarding homosexuality, little is known about the
general population. Apart from the low prevalence and relative
homogeneity of results, regardless of the country evaluated,
available data are coherent with international data in the
following aspects: (a) The general population reports itself as
mainly exclusively heterosexual and (b) bisexuality declaration is greater than homosexuality. However, data on
prevalence must be analyzed with caution because, despite
the big changes regarding Latin American sexuality,37 the
declaration of homosexuality/bisexuality can be strongly
mediated by social desirability, therefore resulting in
underreporting. Data may also be biased by an aim at
quantifying risk behaviors in the context of HIV rather than
homosexual behavior. There are huge differences in the
surveys measurement processes, the way questions are
phrased, and the cultural contexts. This could affect results,
all the more so in countries characterized by a machista culture
in which there is male dominance, a rigid definition of
masculinity, and a very negative evaluation of the violation of
gender roles.38,39 Surveys on homosexual behavior should deal
also with female homosexuality, physical and mental health,
attraction, and homophobia.
Finally, this overview of Latin America reveals gaps in
our knowledge that underscore the urgent necessity of having
real sexual behavior surveys on general populations in the
region. Such surveys should work with more all-encompassing
definitions of sexuality and sexual health, approach sexual
activity in a life course perspective, and take account of
the persisting gender imbalance in sexual interaction and of
the effect of social inequality in living conditions and the
exercise of sexuality. They should also work on discrimination
because sexual health depends on sexual rights.
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