Youth Risk-Taking Behavior in Brazil: Drug Use and Teenage Pregnancies

17 Pages Posted: 27 Sep 2007

See all articles by Ana Rute Cardoso

Ana Rute Cardoso

Instituto de Analisis Economico (IAE-CSIC); Barcelona Graduate School of Economics (Barcelona GSE); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Dorte Verner

World Bank - Latin America and Caribbean Region

Date Written: September 2007

Abstract

Using an extensive survey addressing risk factors faced by the population in the shantytowns of Fortaleza, Brazil, the aim of this paper is to study interactions among different types of risk-taking behavior by youth, namely drug use and teenage pregnancy. We check the impact of factors such as exposure to mass media, the existence of support networks, self-esteem, or the occurrence of violence at home and in the neighborhood, on the probability of risk-taking behavior. A bivariate probit model is estimated. Findings indicate that reliance on support networks and exposure to mass media are associated with a lower probability of either type of risk behavior. Living in a violent home increased drug consumption. Race does not have a significant impact on either type of behavior.

Keywords: drug use, teenage pregnancy, sexual behavior, reproductive health, teenage behavior

JEL Classification: I12, J13

Suggested Citation

Cardoso, Ana Rute and Verner, Dorte, Youth Risk-Taking Behavior in Brazil: Drug Use and Teenage Pregnancies (September 2007). IZA Discussion Paper No. 3030, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1017504 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1017504

Ana Rute Cardoso (Contact Author)

Instituto de Analisis Economico (IAE-CSIC) ( email )

Campus UAB
Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193
Spain
3436917157 (Phone)

Barcelona Graduate School of Economics (Barcelona GSE) ( email )

Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27
Barcelona, Barcelona 08005
Spain

IZA Institute of Labor Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany
492283894508 (Phone)
492273894510 (Fax)

Dorte Verner

World Bank - Latin America and Caribbean Region ( email )

1818 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

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