Paraguayan Women Research Articles

Distribution of human papillomavirus genotypes in Paraguayan women according to the severity of the cervical lesion

The incidence of cervical cancer in Paraguay is among the highest in the world. This study aimed to determine the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in Paraguayan women, according to the severity of the cervical lesion. This cross-sectional study included 207 women without a squamous intraepithelial lesion, 164 with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, 74 with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and 41 with cervical cancer. Type-specific HPV was determined by the polymerase chain reaction with MY9/11 L1 and GP5+/GP6+ L1 primers, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism and reverse line blotting hybridization, respectively. In total, 12 high-risk and 24 low-risk HPVs types were detected. HPV 16 was the most prevalent, followed by HPV 18 in cervical cancer (14.6%), HPV 31 in high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (14.9%), HPVs 58/42 in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (9.1% each), and HPVs 31/58 (2.4% each) in women without squamous intraepithelial lesions. Among 285 positive samples, 24.2% harbored multiple HPV types, being this more prevalent in women with squamous intraepithelial lesions (30.8% in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, 22.5% in high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and 22.0% in cervical cancer) than in women without lesions (9.3%). The higher prevalence of HPV 16 and other high-risk HPVs in women both with and without cervical lesions may explain the high incidence of cervical cancer in Paraguay. This information may be of importance for local decision makers to improve prevention strategies. In addition, these results may be useful as baseline pre-vaccination data for a future virological surveillance in Paraguay.

Female Land Rights, Crop Specialization, and Productivity in Paraguayan Agriculture

Previous work has shown a pattern of lower household incomes for those Paraguayan farms with female landowners in the household. The study of agricultural production reveals that Paraguayan women specialize in livestock and dairy production, while men specialize in crop production. An analysis of crop specialization and crop yields finds no significant differences in yields among households along gender lines, although women appear to specialize in food crops. Finally, households with female land rights have markedly lower rates of return on agricultural production.

Half of Paraguayan Women Use a Method; Almost Eight in 10 Births are Planned

This article summarizes findings from the 1995-96 National Demographic and Health Survey for Paraguay among a sample of 6465 women aged 15-49 years and 4917 of their children born in the 5 years prior to the survey. 32% of the households were of low socioeconomic status and 38% were of high status. 18% worked at home for pay. 56% were not employed. 30% were single. 44% were in a formal union. 19% were in a consensual union. Population amounted to almost 5 million persons. Annual growth was expected to be about 2.6% in both rural and urban areas. 50% were both Spanish and indigenous language speakers. 37% spoke an indigenous language. 9% had 2 or fewer years of schooling 26% had 3-5 years of schooling 28% had 6 years of schooling and 22% had 7-11 years. The median age at 1st marriage was 21.0 years. Premarital sexual activity increased by 34% since 1987 among 15-24 year olds. The median age at 1st birth was 21.3 years. The total fertility rate (TFR) ranged from 2.6 births to 6.7 births. TFR was 4.7 births/woman in 1990 and 4.4 in 1995-96. 43% of women in a union wanted a stop to childbearing of whom 7% had been sterilized. The ideal was 3.6 children. 79% of births were planned 15% were mistimed and 6% were unwanted. The most widely known methods were the pill the injectable the condom a folk method of herbal infusions the IUD and female sterilization. 51% of women in a union were current users. 41% used modern methods. 14% used the pill and 6-8% each used the IUD female sterilization condoms or injectables. 5% relied exclusively on native herbs.

Contraceptive Use and Fertility in Paraguay, 1987

In 1987, 38 percent of married Paraguayan women aged 15-44 were practicing contraception, with oral contraceptives being the most prevalent method. Fertility rates for the population were at corresponding levels, with an overall fertility rate of 5.4 births per woman. Fertility has not changed substantially for the nation as a whole since 1979, and contraceptive use has increased by only 6 percentage points. Findings from the present study are consistent with the lack of a public sector family planning program in the country. Pharmacies are the principal source of contraceptives in the country. Twenty-two percent of all women and one-third of married women are at risk of having an unplanned pregnancy. The greatest impact on contraceptive use can be made if new and continued program efforts focus n the interior of the Oriental region of the country.