Community Health Program
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 four lines of action
Comprehensive sexuality education
Workshops in schools and communities so young people can make informed decisions about their sexual health.
Family planning stations
72 volunteer businesses in 14 communities offer free, accessible contraceptives.
Colores SMA Collective
A safe space for the LGBTTTIQ+ community: talks, free HIV testing and inclusive events.
Comprehensive health and midwifery services
Sexual and reproductive health care with midwifery support.
Family Planning Supply Points
PSC works with volunteers who own or manage 72 shops, food businesses, companies, schools, and other sites in 14 communities and 3 municipalities. They host accessible “Family Planning Supply Points”: small stands (boxes) with condoms and informational materials.
Did you know…
In 2020, 2.5% of girls aged 12 to 17 in Guanajuato already had at least one child, equivalent to 8,100 adolescents.
Source: INEGI, 2020 Census.
Guanajuato's numbers were alarming
Guanajuato ranked 14th among Mexican states for the highest percentage of teenage mothers.
Source: INEGI, 2020 Census.
Decrease in teenage mothers
Between 2015 and 2020, the share of teenage mothers aged 12 to 17 in the state fell by 20% (from 3.1% to 2.5%).
Source: INEGI, 2020 Census.
Teenage Pregnancy Prevention
Centro para los Adolescentes de San Miguel de Allende and its PSC program have been part of the State Group for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy since 2023, working with government institutions and civil society to reduce adolescent pregnancy and eliminate child pregnancy.
Teen 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 is CASA A.C. working toward?
CASA A.C.'s Community Health Program was created to serve people in vulnerable situations, particularly young people. It provides secular, science-based information about sexual and reproductive rights so they can make decisions about their sexual lives.
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…
In 2022, 33.6% of people aged 0 to 17 in Guanajuato lacked access to health services, representing 664,800 children and adolescents.
Source: CONEVAL, Poverty Measurement 2016-2022.
Key facts
That year, Guanajuato ranked 19th among Mexican states for 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 sexual and reproductive health (SRH) guidance and counseling through health fairs, information tables, and social media. Of these, 24% came through WhatsApp, where we received 237 messages requesting SRH guidance.
- We distributed 86,653 male condoms to 2,289 people.
- We provided 208 long-acting methods: 71 IUDs and 137 subdermal implants, 47 of which (34%) were placed in collaboration with CAISES San Miguel de Allende.
- We took 243 samples for Pap smears.
All of these services are completely free.
Since 1981 in San Miguel de Allende
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