ABSTRACT
PIP: Data on sexual attitudes and conduct focus mainly on university populations and other student groups. A survey of sexual attitudes and conduct was administered to 128 upper middle class women, 218 lower middle class women, and 41 poor women in Peru who were mothers. The average age was 35.2, 30.8, and 28.1, and the average number of children was 2.5, 3.5, and 4.0, respectively for each group of mothers. The mean age at menarche was 12.3, 13.8, and 13.6 respectively; this difference was attributed to differences in nutrition. The mean age at 1st intercourse was 21.0, 18.9, and 17.4, and the mean age at 1st pregnancy was 23.2, 21.3, and 19.5 respectively. Thus, there is a direct relationship to socioeconomic status for these last 2 categories. Notably, 52% of the women from a low socioeconomic status became pregnant during adolescence. The respective self-reported use of contraception ranged from 100% among upper middle class women to 72% and 40% for the other groups of mothers. A majority of women in the upper middle class and lower middle class groups believe that men should not engage in premarital sex. A large majority of women in all 3 groups are opposed to legalized abortion. The % of women who believe that abortion should never be allowed under any circumstances was 42.8%, 71.9%, and 60% respectively, and an additional 57.2%, 18.8% and 32.0% respectively would only allow abortion when the mother's health is at risk. The ideal number of children was 3 in all 3 groups.^ieng