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Abstract

This paper has two objectives. The first is to detect the factors that interfere in the contraceptive practices of young women (ages 15-24), analyzing their demographic, socioeconomic, cultural and behavioral characteristics in their current sexual intercourse. Since the failure to use contraceptives can lead to unwanted pregnancies, the second objective is to detect the most important factors related to sexual activity in the appearance of an unwanted child. The results suggest that factors related to sexual activity are the strongest indicators of the likelihood of having used contraceptive methods in the last sexual intercourse, or of having an unwanted child. The most important decision related to a young woman’s contraceptive practices is taken at the beginning of women’s sex life. Those who used contraceptive methods in their first sexual intercourse are less likely to have had an unwanted child and therefore more likely to have used a contraceptive method in their most recent sexual intercourse.