Problems Latina Youth Face

So why focus all my energy on Latina youth? Yes, there are other minorities who face hardships and yes I do not wish to make their struggles seem insignificant but Latina youth do face battles that make it hard for them to lead successful, happy, lives. 

• 1 out of every 7 Latina teens, or 14 %, attempts suicide. Hispanic girls lead girls nationwide in rates of suicide attempts
  (Source: Center for Disease Control)
• 41 % of Latinas in the U.S. do not graduate from high school on time with a diploma.
  (Source: Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund)
• 51% of Latinas get pregnant at least once before age 20—compared to the national average of 35%.
  (Source: National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy)
• While teen pregnancy rates have dropped across all ethnic groups over the past decade, the decline has been smallest among Latinas.(Ventura SJ et al. Trends in pregnancy rates for the United States, 1976-97: an update. National Vital Statistics Reports 2001; 49(4):1-9.)
• Latino youth are at a disproportionate risk for HIV infection. Through December 2001, Latino young men and women represented 20 percent of the cumulative reported AIDS cases among teens(Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report 2001; 13(2):144.)
• The percentage of female teens using any method of contraception at first sexual intercourse was lowest for Latinas (57 percent), compared to non-Hispanic whites (81 percent). Source(Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)

While these stats may look like I am just throwing numbers out there to fill a page, they are not. The fact that not even half of Latinas graduate with a high school diploma much less a college degree is upsetting at the very least. The fact that a little over HALF of Latinas get pregnant before they are even 20 years old and notice that it said *at least* once meaning they could have several children by the time they are twenty years old. These are alarming statistics not only from the Latinitas website but from credible sources who have thoroughly investigated Latina youth. Of course factors influence these statistics such as poverty, health care access, religion, and acculturation it is these reasons that organizations like Latinitas are compelled to put all their effort into this demographic. I didn't want there to be a question left unanswered as to why I chose to dedicate this semester to this group and I hope that these statistics show you why. 

http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/publications-a-z/535-latina-adolescent-health

http://laslatinitas.com/about-us/purpose