Sexuality, reproduction and family planning
Schiavo, M.R.
Populacao and Desenvolvimento 21(144): 54
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0102-8332 PMID: 12281065 Document Number: 527736
High indices of unwanted pregnancies prevail in Brazil, primarily among adolescents. The National Survey on Mother and Child and Family Planning, recently completed by BEMFAM, shows that approximately 1/4 of the births in the last 5 years were unwanted. 28% of the women surveyed stated that they had at least 1 child more than the number they would have wanted to have. The fertility rate in Brazil has decreased since the 1960s, continuing in the 1980s except for the 15-19 year age group. According to recent data in the beginning of the eighties, fertility among adolescents was 65/1,000. Today this rate has increased to 74/1,000, i.e., an increase of 13.8% in 4 years. In 1980, the 15-19 year age group contributed 7.4% of the fertility rate; this rate increased to 10.5% in 1984. Family planning would therefore be an ideal tool to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Pregnancies would be the result of a mature and conscious decision of the partners, and not left to change, contributing to better physical and psychological female equilibrium, better sexual and personal relationships among partners, and greater family stability.