Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T20:58:29.302Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Vasectomy in Colombia: a pilot study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Alfredo Goldsmith
Affiliation:
The Pathfinder Fund, 850 Boylston Street, Boston (Chestnut Hill), Massachusetts 02167, USA
Gilda Echeverria
Affiliation:
The Pathfinder Fund, 850 Boylston Street, Boston (Chestnut Hill), Massachusetts 02167, USA
Rona Goldberg
Affiliation:
The Pathfinder Fund, 850 Boylston Street, Boston (Chestnut Hill), Massachusetts 02167, USA

Summary

This paper describes the first study of vasectomized men in Latin America; it is based on personal interviews with 172 men who had undergone the operation at least 3 months previously.

The majority of the men chose to have the operation relatively late in life (38·9 years), after they had had a large number of children (5·9 living). Men from all education and occupation levels were represented in the sample; about 25% were practising Catholics. Many cited the effectiveness of vasectomy as a major factor in their decision. More than one-half reported at least one failure with other methods. Principal original sources of information about vasectomy for the majority were the mass media. Most reported that their sexual activity had remained unchanged or had improved since the operation and expressed satisfaction with the results of the operation.

(Summary in Spanish, p. 505.)

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1973

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Mexico, El Colegio De (1968) Informes—Clasificación ocupacional para el análisis por actividades y por niveles educativos. Demografia y Economia, 2, 283.Google Scholar
Ferber, A., Tietze, C. & Lewit, S. (1967) Men with vasectomies: a studyof medical, sexual and psychosocial changes. Psychosom. Med. 29, 354.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldsmith, A., Goldberg, R. & Echeverria, G. (1973) An in-depth study of vasectomized men in Latin America—a preliminary report. J. Reprod. Med. 10, 150.Google ScholarPubMed
Lee, H. (1972) The Korean vasectomy program. In: Human Sterilization. Edited by Richart, R. & Prager, D.. Thomas, Charles C., Springfield, Illinois.Google Scholar
Phadke, G.M. (1961) Vasectomy. J. Indian Med. Ass. 37, 241.Google Scholar
Presser, H. (1970) Voluntary sterilization: a world view. Reports on Population/Family Planning, 5, 1.Google ScholarPubMed
Ratcliffe, J., Quddes, A. & Croley, H. (1972) Male sterilization in East Pakistan. In: Human Sterilization. Edited by Richart, R. & Prager, D.. Thomas, Charles C., Springfield, Illinois.Google Scholar
John-Stevas, N. St (1971) The Agonizing Choice. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana.Google Scholar