PRESS
RELEASE

Latin America's Adolescents Demand More Health Information, Study Shows

Washington, DC, February 6, 2004 (PAHO)—A new study by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reports that adolescents trust the news they read and hear about health issues but at the same time are eager for even more information.

Titled Media and Health: The Voice of Adolescents, the report was produced as part of a regional project called COMSALUD, which helps Latin American journalism and communications schools incorporate health issues into their curriculums.

Launched in 1997, Project COMSALUD is aimed at strengthening health communications and health journalism in the Latin American media.

The study surveyed 533 adolescents aged 12 to 19 in 11 Latin American nations. Respondents were asked about the role of the media in their daily lives. The study used focus groups made up of adolescents from middle-income and low-income urban families. Participants were asked about their experiences and opinions about the "old" media-print, radio and television-and the "new media" -videogames, cell phones and the Internet.

The survey found a significant media presence-especially radio and television-in the daily lives of those interviewed. It also found that print media are not a consistent source of information for younger adolescents.

Respondents said they receive information about health issues from their families, their schools and the media-in that order. However, they said that none of those sources really filled their needs. In addition, they reported they value highly the dramatized health messages contained in soap operas (telenovelas).

The adolescents-especially those aged 16 to 19-acknowledged it wasn't easy to share information with their parents about sex and sexuality. But at the same time, they also said they regard the information they receive from their families as most credible.

Respondents said that HIV/AIDS is the health topic most often addressed by the media. However, they were critical of the excessive use of technical jargon, which they say makes it more difficult to understand risks and preventive measures.

The harshest criticism voiced by the adolescents concerned the way in which the media deal with alcohol and tobacco. They said they found a huge contradiction between messages about preventing alcohol and tobacco abuse, and the eye-catching commercials and ads promoting consumption.

Very few of those surveyed admitted having changed their habits after being exposed to health information.

Youths represent an ever-growing and important sector of the population in the Americas. In 2000, there were an estimated 155 million young people aged 10 to 24. In Latin America, adolescents aged 10 to 19 made up 20 percent of the population, with more than 80 percent of them living in urban areas.

Poverty is a significant factor in the health of the region's children and adolescents.

Most health programs for young people in the region focus on adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Young people have been disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic, with about half of those infected falling into the 15-24 age group. In addition, every year about 15 percent of adolescents aged 15 to 19 contracts a sexually transmitted infection, the main cause of infection of the reproductive organs.

The study was financed by PAHO, the Joint U.N. Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the Swedish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (SIDA) and universities that participated in the project. The Latin American Federation of Faculties of Social Communication (FELAFACS) also supported the study.

PAHO was established in 1902 and is the world's oldest public health organization. PAHO works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and the quality of life of people of the Americas. It serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO).

PAHO Member States today include all 35 countries in the Americas. France, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are Participating States. Portugal and Spain are Observer States, and Puerto Rico is an Associate Member.

For more information:

• Why Should We Invest in Adolescents?
• The Legislative and Policy Environment for Adolescent Health in Latin America and the Caribbean
• PAHO Regional Youth CD