[Approaches to low-income groups' sexuality: a comparative study of women in three low-income contexts in Peru]. / Aproximaciones a la sexualidad popular: estudio comparativo de mujeres de tres contextos populares del Peru.

"This work...examines the cultural dimension of sexuality and fertility of women from [low-income] sectors in Peru. It intends to explain the cultural processes that fall into the intermediate variables of fertility, such as marriage rate, contraception, breastfeeding and...abortion. These dimensions of sexual and reproductive life are analyzed according to two explanatory dimensions: generation and cultural context of socialization. The general hypothesis is that a cultural process of homogenization of the values and behaviors has been taking place over sexuality, in such a way that the younger generations will show similar standard behaviors and values no matter their context of socialization; in the meantime, in the older groups there will exist contextual differences in these dimensions." (SUMMARY IN ENG)

[Women pioneers of reproductive change in Mexico]. / Mujeres pioneras del cambio reproductivo en Mexico.

PIP: The authors attempt to characterize the women who have played a pioneering role in changing reproductive patterns in Mexico. They investigate groups of women having high and low fertility, the importance of generational groups, and variations in the impact of age at first union. The effect of selected socioeconomic and geographical characteristics on reproductive behavior is explored.^ieng

[The preoccupation with goals]. / La preocupacion por las metas

PIP: Contraception has become the principle factor in Mexico's fertility drop during the past 15 years. Between 1976-82, 47.7% of married women in the population used contraception. The national policy established a growth rate of 1.9% for 1988 implying a global fertility rate of 3.1, with a 58% utilization rate; results of the 1987 Demographic and Health Survey demonstrated that Mexico achieved a fertility rate of 3.8 and a 52.7% utilization rate. In Mexico fertility is perceived as the key variable that can change the demographic profile of the country with family planning as the means of changing people's value systems and controlling the growth of the population. In Mexico, regional characteristics determine the number of children couples decide to have. There are 4 groups of behavior: 1) the Northeast (63%) and Northwest (70%) which have accurate statistical data, share borders with the US and are economically developed; 2) the North Zone of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the 3 regions on the coast (Gulf 54%; South Center 51%; and Center 55%); 3) the North Center (46%); and 4) the Southeastern region (32%) with the lowest prevalence rates in the country. There is a need to modify the demographic rationale of determining targets towards a more social/historical perspective that acknowledges regional differences in a country and allows new interest in understanding the reproductive behavior of women and couples.^ieng

Recent fertility trends in Suriname.

PIP: A rapid decline in fertility took place in Suriname between 1962 and 1974, and then stopped. While this sudden stabilization is surprising, it is not unusual. Similar trends have occurred in some Caribbean and Latin American countries. This article analyzes the post-1960 trend in fertility in Suriname and seeks to determine whether the 1962-74 fertility decline resulted from changes in socioeconomic conditions or was caused by the activities of the Suriname Family Planning Association. The measures used are the general fertility rate, the total fertility rate by ethnic group as well as by 5-year age groups, and gross and net reproduction rates by ethnic group. All the measures point to a rapid continuing decline of fertility between 1962 and 1974, followed by a rise. The data suggest that major socioeconomic changes had already been under way for some years, when fertility started to fall in 1962. The Suriname Family Planning Association was not founded until 1968, which implies that the organization did not start the decrease. However, once the organization was founded, it continually expanded its activities and made an obvious contribution to the use of contraceptives that increased significantly in the 1970s. It is concluded that the drop in fertility resulted from the process of modernization along with the rapid increase in the use of contraceptives.^ieng

[Changes in fertility in the last decade]. / Evolucion de la fecundidad en el ultimo decenio.

PIP: The rapid decrease in fertility levels in Cuba over the past decade constitutes an interesting problem for researchers. Only a few highly industrialized countries, the U.S., Hungary, New Zealand, Oceania and Japan, have observed a situation somewhat similar to that in Cuba. This article analyzes the change in fertility expressed in the reversal of various indicators: the estimated birth rate, the general fertility rate by age, summary of the reduction in the total birth rate. It is possible to observe a reduction in all levels which demonstrates a change in reproductive behavior among Cuban couples. In addition, the distribution of age groups has been modified, increasing the elderly population. This pattern has been repeated more or less on an international scale.^ieng