Community Health Program (PSC)
This is the first program of the Civil Association. It was established in 1981 by a group of young health promoters with the goal of providing youth-to-youth information on sexual and reproductive rights for the most vulnerable population, particularly young men and women, to help them make decisions about their sexual lives. We also provide free barrier and long-acting contraceptive methods.
The program has 4 lines of action:
Comprehensive sex education
Family Planning Warehouses
SMA Colors Collective
Comprehensive Health and Midwifery Services
Family Planning Warehouses
PSC has a group of volunteers who own or manage 72 commercial businesses, food establishments, businesses, schools, etc. in 14 communities and 3 municipalities. They have accessible "Family Planning Warehouses," which consist of small stands (boxes) with condoms and informational materials.
Did you know that…
In 2020, 2.51% of women aged 12 to 17 in Guanajuato already had at least one child, equivalent to 8.1 thousand adolescents.
Source: INEGI, 2020 Census.
Guanajuato was in the red
Guanajuato was in 14th place with the highest percentage of teenage mothers.
Source: INEGI, 2020 Census.
Decrease in teenage mothers
Between 2015 and 2020, the proportion of teenage mothers between 12 and 17 years old in the entity decreased by 20% (from 3.1% to 2.5%).
Source: INEGI, 2020 Census.
Teenage Pregnancy Prevention
The San Miguel de Allende Adolescent Center and its PSC program have been part of the State Group for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy since 2023. Their goal is to collectively contribute with various government institutions and civil society to reduce adolescent pregnancy and eradicate child pregnancy.
Teenage pregnancy is a complex problem that affects and modifies the life plan of the young woman who becomes pregnant.
as well as that of her partner and family. Furthermore, it has significant negative consequences for the adolescent's health and psychosocial development. Statistics show that one in four teenage pregnancies was unplanned and one in ten was unwanted.
San Miguel de Allende ranks 12th in the state for the highest pregnancy rate among teens ages 15 to 19.
What does Sexual and Reproductive Health mean?
It refers to a state of comprehensive well-being that encompasses the physical, emotional, mental, and social aspects of sexuality and reproduction, not just the absence of disease, dysfunction, or discomfort. In this sense, a positive view of sexuality and reproduction must recognize the importance of pleasurable sexual relations, trust, and communication to foster self-esteem and overall well-being. All people have the right to make decisions about their bodies and to access services that support that right.
Why are sexual and reproductive education workshops important in schools?
Adolescence is a key stage in identity formation, emotional development, and relationship building. However, many young people grow up without access to clear, reliable, and up-to-date information about sexuality, which can put their health, emotional well-being, and future at risk.
Sexual and reproductive education workshops in schools offer a safe and educational space where children and adolescents can learn about their bodies, their rights, the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), contraceptive methods, consent, and sexual diversity, among other key topics.
This education not only enables them to make informed decisions, but also contributes to building a more equitable, respectful, and violence-free society.
Everyone has the right to make decisions about their bodies and to access services that support that right.
What's going on?
Lack of information and access to contraceptive methods are determining factors in this problem. It has been observed that the younger the age at which sexual relations begin, the lower the likelihood of using contraceptives. This is reflected in the high levels of unmet demand for contraceptives among adolescents, compared to the national average. The magnitude of the problem is evident in the fact that almost one in five births in Mexico occurs to women under 20 years of age.
What are we looking for at CASA AC?
With the aim of providing the most vulnerable population, particularly young people, The CASA AC Community Health Program is born, which provides secular and scientific information on sexual and reproductive rights for making decisions about your sexual life.
Currently, a coordinator, a traditional midwife, and a professionally trained midwife provide specialized information and guidance on sexual health and reproductive justice in San Miguel de Allende and its surrounding areas.
Did you know that…
In 2022, 33.61% of the population aged 0 to 17 in Guanajuato lacked access to health services, representing 664.8 thousand children and adolescents.
Source: CONEVAL, Poverty Measurement 2016-2022.
Hard data
That year, Guanajuato ranked nineteenth in the state with the highest percentage of children and adolescents without access to these services.
Source: CONEVAL, Poverty Measurement 2016-2022.
Help needed
Between 2020 and 2022, the lack of access to health services among this age group increased by 9.1 percentage points, from 24.5% to 33.6% in the state.
Source: CONEVAL, Poverty Measurement 2016-2022.
PSC's Notable Achievements
Among PSC's most notable achievements in the last year are the 47 workshops it has held on comprehensive sexual health, including teen pregnancy prevention and contraceptive methods, in various educational centers and communities, reaching 2,754 young people.
- 1,231 young students and mothers received these talks.
- In addition, 977 people received guidance and counseling on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) through health fairs, information tables, and social media. In 2019, 241 messages were received via WhatsApp. We received 237 messages requesting some type of guidance related to SRH.
- We distributed 86,653 male condoms to 2,289 people.
- We applied 208 long-term methods: 71 DIUS and 137 subdermal implants, of which 47 or the 34% were applied in collaboration with CAISES San Miguel de Allende.
- We took 243 samples for Pap smears.