Title not available in English.

Abstract

Female sterilization in Brazil: income and education differentials. This paper analyses some aspects of the high prevalence of female sterilization in Brasil, based on information about contraception provided by the PNSMIPF-I986. On one hand, the article relates specific sterilization rates with socioeconomic indicators, showing that sterilization level increases with income but decreases with education. The findings confirm the hypothesis that although high education levels provide information and access to a wider range of contraceptive options, income is fundamental to provide access to sterilization surgery. On the other hand, the paper shows that the called "sterilization conditions" are much better among richer and higher educated women.