Contraceptive sterilization: a comparison of Mexican-Americans and Anglos living in U.S. counties bordering Mexico.

Prior to the U.S.-Mexico Border Survey of MCH and Family Planning conducted by the Centers for Disease Control in 1979 little information was available concerning the extent to which Mexican-Americans in the U.S. relative to Anglos were using male and female sterilization for contraceptive reasons. This paper focuses on the comparison of the 2 groups in terms of: 1) the prevalence of contraceptive sterilization 2) the social and demographic characteristics of users of contraceptive sterilization and 3) the timing during the reproductive life cycle when contraceptive sterilization occurs. For both Mexican-Americans and Anglos contraceptive sterilization (male and female) was the 2nd most prevalent method used. Anglos were more likely to use male than female sterilization (22.4% vs. 19.5%) while Mexican-Americans were much more likely to use female than male sterilization (23.2% vs. 5.8%). Having an unwanted last live birth and/or high parity were important factors related to use of female sterilization for both Mexican-Americans and Anglos. (authors)