Santo Domingo.– The sexual life of young Dominican women continues to be a key indicator for evaluating factors associated with adolescent pregnancy and early unions. The most recent National Multiple-Purpose Household Survey (ENHOGAR-MICS 2025) revealed that 12.2% of Dominican women between the ages of 15 and 24 had their first sexual encounter before turning 15.
The study, prepared by the National Statistics Office (ONE), with technical support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Superintendence of Health and Occupational Risks (SISALRIL), explains that the age of onset of sexual relations constitutes one of the elements that help to understand the incidence of adolescent pregnancy, since an earlier start to sexual life increases the probability of pregnancies during adolescence and throughout the reproductive stage.
Sex life
The results show that the early onset of sexual life presents differences according to social and territorial conditions. The proportion increases to 13.8% among young women living in rural areas, while it reaches 30.8% among those with a primary or basic education level.
Among those belonging to the lowest income quintile, the percentage rises to 23.7%, which evidences a higher incidence in sectors with greater levels of vulnerability.
Regional sex life
By region, Yuma records the highest percentage of women aged 15 to 24 who began their sexual life before the age of 15, with 16.0%, followed by El Valle, with 13.9%.
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At the other end are Higuamo, with 9.5%; Cibao Sur, with 9.6%, and Valdesia, with 10.9%, among the regions with the lowest proportions.
The ENHOGAR-MICS 2025 is part of the country’s main statistical tools for the design and evaluation of public policies. In addition to measuring indicators on sexual behavior, it incorporates information on maternal and reproductive health, fertility, family planning, education, access to technology, child protection, household conditions, and other indicators linked to the monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The study was conducted using a probabilistic sample of 35,238 dwellings, from which an effective sample of 29,676 households was obtained, with a response rate of 98.6%.
