Social and psychological perspectives on voluntary sterilization: a review
Philliber, S.G.; Philliber, W.W.
Studies in Family Planning 16(1): 1-29
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0039-3665 PMID: 3983979 DOI: 10.2307/1965814Document Number: 408594
This paper reviews social science research on the antecedents and consequences of voluntary sterilization. The major conclusions are that socioeconomic status has little impact on the decision to be sterilized and that sterilizations are rare among those without sons and among male nonwhites. Significant others are important sources of encouragement and information, and good marital relations increase the likelihood of having the procedure performed. Most acceptors experience no change in sexual activity, quality of marital relationships, or work-related behavior, and few regret their choice. Negative consequences are more likely among those in India, those coerced into having a sterilization, those who did not understand the consequences of the procedure, those with health complications after sterilization, and those couples who have unstable marriages or who disagree about sterilization. An inverse relationship between sterilization and socioeconomic status seems to result when other methods of contraception are not easily available to those of lower socioeconomic status. In other instances the procedure appears to be 1st adopted in upper socioeconomic groups and then these groups are emulated in the lower classes. Very few couples without children or with only 1 child have voluntary sterilizations. On the other hand, most sterilizations occur among high parity couples. Religion does not appear to be an influential factor in choosing sterilization. Although it may not effect individual behavior, some religious institutions' opposition to sterilization may effect its availability,e.g. in countries where Catholicism or Islam dominate. The frequency of female sterilization is about the same among blacks, whites and Hispanics, although a little higher for blacks and Hispanics. The low rate of sterilization among black and Hispanic men is usually explained by a culture value, e.g. the relationship between ability to conceive and masculinity. The 3 major motivations for being sterilized are: financial, completed family size and dislike of other contraceptive methods. Research has not yet shown the importance of attitudinal and personality correlates of voluntary sterilization. The most consistent personality factor is that sterilized men have a lower than average need for social approval. Data support the hypothesis that there may be hidden impacts of sterilization that have been only infrequently captured. Some studies showed decreased sexual functioning and elevated levels of psychological disturbance among men who reported being satisfied with their vasectomies.