Contraception and Catholicism in Latin America

Abstract

Data from probability samples in Bogota Caracas Lima Mexico City Rio de Janeiro San Jose San Salvadore and Panama City used to analyze the role of Catholicism in Latin America in relation to ideal fertility. In all but Panama City ideal family size rose with the degree of religious observance. There is considerable variation among cities from an ideal of 2.4 in Rio de Janeiro to 4.1 in Mexico City. The more religious women were more likely to prefer additional children. More devout women were less favorable towards the use of birth control than women of moderate or nominal beliefs. Although there is a negative relationship between religiosity and practice of contraception there is no such relationship between religiosity and fertility. The better educated women were most affected in attitudes and practices by the Churchs teaching but they were the group with the lower fertility. No consistent differences were found between Catholics and non-Catholics in attitudes contraceptive practice or fertility.