THE PLACE OF FEMALE CONTRACEPTION IN THREE BRAZILIAN PUBLIC HEALTH POLICIES

Abstract

 Fertility rates in Brazil have been declining significantly, characterizing a growing group of women who choose not to become mothers. This work, of a qualitative nature, aims to present an analysis of the approach to female contraception in some Brazilian public health policies. Three national reference policies, recognized in academia and health services, were examined. The set of analyzed policies converges, mainly, in the scarce discussion about contraceptive methods and in the absence of approaching contraception as a permanent process in the lives of those who do not wish to become mothers at any time. There is considerable invisibility of this group on the part of public policies. Differences between the policies were identified mainly in their constructions: if there is a policy resulting from the protagonism and the claim of social movements, there is also a policy built vertically by privileged sectors. Despite the challenges, all the analyzed policies represent advances in the field of health. It suggests the need to review and reorient existing policies, through monitoring and evaluation processes, as well as to elaborate, formulate and implement other policies that correspond to the demands and social realities of women who do not wish to become mothers.