Prevalence, knowledge and types of contraception used by women, according to the type of union: a study for Brazil and Mexico

The Latin American countries have experienced, albeit at different speeds and intensities, a sustained fertility decline. Among the factors responsible for decline, the increase in prevalence of modern contraceptive methods is point out as one of the main proximate determinants of fertility decline. Given this context, this paper aims to analyze contraceptive prevalence and the main types of methods known and used by women, according to the type of union for two representative countries of the low level of fertility in Latin America, Brazil and Mexico. The interest in assessing those dimensions according to the type of union is related to the fact that would be a new profile of women adopting the consensual union in the region. Firstly, we present the proportion of women in each type of union and a short description of these women's profile. After that, we do an descriptive analysis of the prevalence and the contraceptive methods known and used by women, according to the union type. The analysis is performed by education. We expect this work contributes to the identification of different profiles of contraceptive use, providing inputs for policies related to fertility planning for all social groups and ensure universal access to reproductive rights.