Recent trends in contraceptive sterilization in Flanders
Lodewijckx, E.
Journal of Biosocial Science 21(1): 59-70
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9320 PMID: 2925700 DOI: 10.1017/s0021932000017727Document Number: 248265
Elective sterilization was a rare phenomenon in Flanders until the late 1970s and its frequency remains below that in many neighboring countries, largely because of a lag in male sterilization. A survey was carried out in 1982-83 by the Population and Family Study Center to collect more detailed information on sterilization trends, attitudes, and potential future use. In 1983, 15% of all Dutch-speaking women 20-44 years of age had been surgically sterilized or had a vasectomized partner. Over half of the sterilizations took place after 1978 and 75% were performed for contraceptive purposes. Next to oral contraceptives, sterilization is now the most widely practiced form of fertility control in Flanders among married women. The vasectomy/tubal ligation ratio at the time of the survey was 0.239, indicating that nearly 4 out of 5 sterilization procedures are performed on women. Multiple classification analysis identified only 2 significant differences between sterilized and nonsterilized couples: the former had a higher family size and did not expect to have any more children. A comparison of contraceptive history revealed that sterilized women differed from the nonsterilized by a more frequent use of modern, largely hormonal methods (86% versus 56%) and less frequent use of traditional and barrier methods (14% versus 32%). The mean age at sterilization was 34 years. The role taken by the wife in the tubal ligation decision was much stronger that that among wives of vasectomized men, while the male influenced the decision much more in the vasectomy than the tubal ligation group. Temporal data indicate progressively younger age at sterilization and a higher frequency of vasectomy, although only 2 men for every 3 women are expected to undergo the procedure even in the youngest age cohorts. Regret does not seem to be a major problem among sterilization acceptors in Flanders; 98% expressed complete satisfaction with their decision.