Reprodução na juventude: Perfis sociodemográficos, comportamentais e reprodutivos na PNDS 2006

Abstract

Objective: Analyze the sociodemographic characteristics and the sexual andreproductive behavior of young women. Methods: A cross-sectional nationally representative study was performedabout sexual, contraceptive and reproductive behavior with 2,991 women age15 to 20 years inthe National Survey on Demography and Health of Womenand Children, 2006. The women were classified into three groups: sexualinitiation and pregnancy before the age of 20 (group A); sexual initiation butno pregnancy before the age of 20 (group B) and no sexual initiation (group C).Women until age 25 years were included in the study about reasons for becomingpregnant andthe implications for their lives. Statistical analysis consideredsurvey weights and the complex sample design. The association between twocategorical variables was assessed by chi-squaretest. The behavior variableswere assessed using a global linear model. Results: Women in grou A were mainly black, poorer and with lowereducation level. These women had an early sexual initiation, less safecontraceptive behavior and less knowledge of reproduction physiology incomparison with group B; young women in group C were characterized bygreater attendance at school and 1/3 of this group claimed to maintain theirvirginity until marriage. For women up to the age of 25, pregnancy before 20years was perceived as having more positive than negative impacts upon theirlove life, spousal relationships, social lives and self-esteem. Conclusions: Tere is a significant association between pregnancy beforethe age of 20 and higher poverty andlower educational level. In the absenceof better living conditions and opportunities, pregnancy, although unplanned,becomes "a plan for life" and is not seen as a lack of life planning.