Measurement and profiles of unsatisfied demands for contraceptives in the municipalities of Belo Horizonte and Recife, Brazil, 2002

Abstract

Based on data from SRSR (Reproductive Health, Sexuality, and Race Program), collected in 2002 in Belo Horizonte and Recife, Brazil, the objectives of this article are (1) to measure unmet needs for contraception for female respondents ages 15 to 49, of all colors/races in both municipalities, and (2) to build profiles of unmet needs for contraception, generated according to educational level and municipality of residence, using Grade of Membership (GoM). Results suggest that the unmet need for contraception is higher in Recife than in Belo Horizonte. The unmet need profiles indicate that, regarding school level, Profile 3, which, associated with more educated women, reveals the best conditions in all dimensions included in the study (demographic, economic, knowledge, access, and reproduction). The analysis based on city of residence indicates that the profile associated with higher probability of being interviewed in Belo Horizonte showed more favorable characteristics.