[Reproduction and contraception. Third National Prevalence Survey 1986]. / Reproduccion y contracepcion. Tercera Encuesta Nacional de Prevalencia 1986.

PIP: Preliminary results are presented from the Third National Contraceptive Prevalence Survey of Colombia, which took place in 1986. The sample of about 4500 households was representative on the national, urban, rural, and regional levels. The total fertility rate for 1986 was estimated at 4.9 in rural areas, 2.8 in urban areas including Bogota, and 3.2 for the country as a whole, compared to 4.4 in 1976 and 6.7 in 1969. Fertility changes in women over 30 have been particularly important in the past 10 years. The number of live births per 1000 women declined from 233 in 1971-75 to 183 in 1981-86 for women aged 20-24, from 227 to 173 for women aged 25-29, from 176 to 122 for women aged 30-34, from 131 to 79 for women aged 35-39, and from 67 to 30 for women aged 40-44. 69% of women in unions did not want more children. 30% of those aged 15-19 did not want more children and 29% did not want more for at least 2 years. 98% of Colombian women knew of some contraceptive method. 82.6% of women currently in union have used a method and 63.2% were using a method at the time of the interview. 51% used a modern method. The pill was most often used by younger women, the IUD by slightly older women, and voluntary sterilization was preferred by women over 30. Women using IUDs tended to be better educated and to live in urban areas. 24% of women in union in Bogota used IUDs in 1986. Sterilization was more prevalent in the Atlantic region and in less educated women. Contraceptive usage increased from 43% to 63% of women in union between 1976-86. 18% of Colombian women were sterilized as of 1986. PROFAMILIA clinics are the most important source of IUDs and female sterilization, while drugstores and pharmacies are the most important source for pills, vaginal spermicides, condoms, and injectables. 31% of women who stated they wanted no more children were not using any family planning method. The unsatisfied need was greater for younger women, the less educated, rural women, and those in the Atlantic region.^ieng