Aspects of anti contraception methods used on Sao Paulo State, Brazil

Objective To analyze data on contraceptive use in the State of Silo Paulo, Brazil, collected by the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted in 1996. Methods The study data were compared to 1986 DHS and 1996 data on the Brazilian population. Contraceptive use among married or cohabiting women was evaluated focusing on age, number of children, schooling, and age and timing of female sterilization. Statistical analysis was performed using Student t-test and Kendall's non-parametric test. Results Unlike data on the Brazilian population female sterilization rates were steady in the State of Sao Paulo during the studied period. The same contraceptive pattern is seen in both Brazil and Silo Paulo: women aged up to 30 years use largely pills; female sterilization predominates in women over 30, increasing with the number of children and decreasing with years of schooling. Male methods have also increased in recent years, being greater in Seto Paulo than in Brazil. Sao Paulo also shows a greater variety of reversible contraceptive methods. Conclusions Although there were some differences, the prevalence of only two contraceptive methods in both Brazil and Sao Paulo suggests a tendency regarding the contraceptive methods offered and in reproductive health in the view of new regulations on family planning.