Text
French
ID: <
10.7202/019492ar>
·
DOI: <
10.7202/019492ar>
Abstract
Contraceptive prevalence is relatively high among Brazilian women, with orals the most popular reversible method. However, important differentials persist across regions and social groups in reproductive outcomes. This study examined the factors associated with discontinuation, failure and switching of orals in Brazil, with the aim of increasing the evidence base on contraceptive use dynamics. Multilevel competing risks hazard models were applied to data from the 1996 Demographic and Health Survey. Results showed lower risks of contraceptive failure and of switching to no method associated with certain characteristics-notably woman’s age, education and media exposure-presumably related to increased motivation for fertility control. The risk of switching from orals to condoms, of particular interest in the era of HIV/AIDS, increased with level of education. Expanding access to a range of contraceptive methods, improving knowledge among health agents of contraceptive technologies and increasing medical supervision of contraceptive practice may be considered key to expanding quality reproductive health care services for all.