Sociocultural Factors Affecting Reproductive Health in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the socio-economic, health and fertility conditions in the countries of the Americas. Among those considered are GNP and annual growth and inflation rates, fertility rates, increasing urbanization, life expectancy at birth, infant and child mortality, and maternal mortality particularly due to complication from pregnancy and childbirth. Barriers for women and men on contraception use are discussed. Among the most important influencing factors are ethical and moral considerations, lack of access to information and supplies, women holding a lower status than men throughout Latin America and some parts of the Caribbean resulting in women's unregulated fertility, poor quality health services being available, and lower educational opportunities and levels than men. Additionally, the extremely poor quality of the interface women have with the health care system sends many of them away. Although a major proportion of pregnancies occur in adolescent women, no special provisions are made to provide education or services to this population. The article ends by proposing some alternative actions to improve options for contraceptive choices in the populations of Latin America and the Caribbean.