Black Mexican Matters: History, Human Rights, & Health Education for Adolescents in Houston, Texas: A Special Studies Project Público

Abstract

STIs are extremely common under the age of 25 since youth are more likely to be sexually active and engage in unprotected sex (CDC, 2020; Texas Children’s Hospital, 2023). Adolescents (aged 15-24) account for approximately 25 percent of the sexually active population in the country, “but account for half of the 20 million new [STI] cases” each year (Texas DSHS, 2020). The U.S. has higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and adolescent pregnancy than most developed countries, and the burden of sexual reproductive health (SRH) inequity is experienced more by racial, ethnic, and gender minorities (like transgender and non-binary persons). Furthermore, African American, and Latin American youth living in counties along the U.S.- Mexico border have the highest rates of STIs and unintended pregnancy in the state (Hubach et al., 2022). To address this problem, school education, health services, legislation, and social norms need to be reformed with a human rights perspective that does not disregard or harm any person. Moreover, the U.S. and Mexico share a long and painful history colonialism, cultural, religious, and political theories of white supremacy, and legal, economic, and social systemic racism that has disproportionately affected the health and prosperity of Black and Indigenous people on both sides of the Rio Grande. Therefore, this thesis focuses on Black Mexicans, especially in Texas, which was once Mexico, then an independent republic (1836-1846), and is now the most diverse, and second largest, state in the U.S. The first objective is to present the contributions and needs of a traditionally overlooked population with a positive human rights perspective. The second objective is to deliver a comprehensive, medically accurate and culturally congruent SRH eBook curriculum for Houston adolescents. The subsequent research and deliverable are designed with a Social-Ecological Reproductive Justice (SERJ) model, and the pure intention to help young people facilitate meaningful and productive discussions about their autonomy, anatomy, sexuality, safety, fertility, and family planning rights. The goal is to promote informed decision-making (IDM), all-inclusive SRH access, the eradication of all forms of violence, and, ultimately, the global protection of all underrepresented and underserved populations, in and outside, of the African diaspora.

Table of Contents

Introduction and Literature Review 1

Methods 8

Deliverable 9

Discussion 9

Public Health Implications 16

Conclusions 20

References 24

Appendix 28

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Hubert Department of Global Health
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Education Anthropology, Medical and Forensic Health Sciences, Public Health
Palabra Clave	sexual education minority health adolescent health
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	A. Cornelius Baker, Emory University

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