The proliferation of female sterilization in Brazil and India: a comparative analysis of the cohort and parity effects

Brazil and India have shown declining fertility trends throughout the last three decades. Much of the fertility decline in these two culturally contrasting societies has been fuelled by an increase in the use of female sterilization. Nearly two-fifths of Brazilian and Indian women undergo sterilization, particularly in their early reproductive life (median age: 30.1 in Brazil, 25.7 in India). Over time, female sterilization in these settings has become a culturally accepted and highly prevalent method of contraception. Using data from the 1996 Brazilian DHS and the 1998-99 Indian NFHS, this paper aims to examine the effect of cohort and parity in determining early completion of childbearing by means of permanent methods use. Hazard analyses, after controlling for relevant socio-cultural and demographic characteristics, demonstrate evidence of strong cohort and parity effects that are consistently significant in explaining early sterilization in these two settings, which have had different intervention strategies towards family planning.