Lack of education and ignorance are the most prominent factors attributing to the great number of women suffering from venereal diseases. Sadly, the often insufficient information about sexual health ties directly into family planning. Large families are of great importance and strongly encouraged in Mexico because of the idea that children bring happiness and security. Consequently, the pregnancy rate is very high and the abortion rate is minimal. Read about the sexually transmitted disease concern for women living in the border region in Sexually Transmitted Diseases , by Lisa Cheng.
Pregnancy discrimination is a widespread problem in the maquiladoras.
Although Mexico has labor laws, the government does little to uphold the laws and protect the women. There is much debate surroundnig pregnancy discrimination, Mexico's Labor Laws, and who should be responsible for the well-being of pregnant women. Read about pregnancy discrimination on the border in the maquiladoras in Discrimination on the Border , by Tricia Bair. Complicating women's lives even more are the stressors and mental health effects associated with working in the maquiladoras and living the border lifestyle that the factories promote. The border-factory lifestyle contributes to mental health problems such as depression and severe anxiety, which in turn have serious consequences on women's physical health.