The path of sexual and reproductive health in Latin America: a temporal analysis of indicators in five countries in the Region

Abstract

The paper presents the evolution of the reproductive pattern of different Latin American countries with different levels of fertility; the objective is to understand whether the Region is acquiring homogeneity in terms of reproductive behavior. Indicators of this pattern are the proportion of childless women, the median age at first marriage and first child, and the presence of child when using contraception for the first time. The data come from reproductive health surveys from Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Peru, and the Dominican Republic at three points on time: the 1980s and 1990s, and the early 2000s according to age and education. Results show that differences are narrowing across countries as well as the fertility levels, but gaps within the country remain. The results offer important inputs to understand the paths outlined by different generations in the countries of the Region regarding the reproductive pattern.