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Guatemala City: Difference between revisions
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In Guatemala, no prescription is required to purchase birth control. In 2015, it was estimated that 57.2% of Guatemalan women (who are married or in unions, and of reproductive age) used a modern contraception method. It was also estimated that 17.3% of Guatemalan women, who are married or in unions, have unmet family planning needs.<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf UN Report: Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide, 2015]</ref> Contraceptive use in Guatemala seems to be less widely accepted due to traditional religious views. Much of the country is strongly Catholic, and families often view children as "what God gives you" or "out of your hands." Furthermore, it is often men in the families who make family planning decisions, and reportedly some men look down upon birth control, sometimes even viewing it as something for sex workers rather than wives. This has lead to a situation in which many women and their families are unaware of the birth control methods available to them, and they may even be intimidated away from pursuing them.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world-jan-june11-guatemala_03-08/ In Guatemala, Family Planning Clashes with Religion, Tradition]</ref> | In Guatemala, no prescription is required to purchase condoms or oral contraceptives (birth control pills). In 2015, it was estimated that 57.2% of Guatemalan women (who are married or in unions, and of reproductive age) used a modern contraception method. It was also estimated that 17.3% of Guatemalan women, who are married or in unions, have unmet family planning needs.<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf UN Report: Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide, 2015]</ref> Contraceptive use in Guatemala seems to be less widely accepted due to traditional religious views. Much of the country is strongly Catholic, and families often view children as "what God gives you" or "out of your hands." Furthermore, it is often men in the families who make family planning decisions, and reportedly some men look down upon birth control, sometimes even viewing it as something for sex workers rather than wives. This has lead to a situation in which many women and their families are unaware of the birth control methods available to them, and they may even be intimidated away from pursuing them.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world-jan-june11-guatemala_03-08/ In Guatemala, Family Planning Clashes with Religion, Tradition]</ref> | ||
Guatemala has a particularly high teen pregnancy rate. By the age of twenty, 44% of Guatemalan women are mothers and about 50% are married. By the age of 30, a woman may have had seven or eight children in Guatemala. For women who are uneducated or live in rural areas, these numbers are higher. The majority of children who do not attend school in Guatemala are indigenous children, especially indigenous girls. According to report written by the Council of on Hemispheric Affairs, "even though contraception is available, it is often denied to teens. In Guatemala’s machismo culture, girls are frequently denied birth control at health centers unless accompanied by a man. In the chance that a girl is not denied, most are persuaded by the Catholic Church to not use an effective method of birth control." Furthermore, "The actions by Guatemala’s government in an attempt to decrease teen pregnancy and eradicate sexual violence should be commended; however, more work needs to be done for young girls to finally have an alternative to dropping out of school and becoming pregnant. " <ref>[http://www.coha.org/why-is-guatemalas-teen-pregnancy-rate-so-high/ Why is Guatemala’s teen pregnancy rate so high?]</ref> | Guatemala has a particularly high teen pregnancy rate. By the age of twenty, 44% of Guatemalan women are mothers and about 50% are married. By the age of 30, a woman may have had seven or eight children in Guatemala. For women who are uneducated or live in rural areas, these numbers are higher. The majority of children who do not attend school in Guatemala are indigenous children, especially indigenous girls. According to report written by the Council of on Hemispheric Affairs, "even though contraception is available, it is often denied to teens. In Guatemala’s machismo culture, girls are frequently denied birth control at health centers unless accompanied by a man. In the chance that a girl is not denied, most are persuaded by the Catholic Church to not use an effective method of birth control." Furthermore, "The actions by Guatemala’s government in an attempt to decrease teen pregnancy and eradicate sexual violence should be commended; however, more work needs to be done for young girls to finally have an alternative to dropping out of school and becoming pregnant. " <ref>[http://www.coha.org/why-is-guatemalas-teen-pregnancy-rate-so-high/ Why is Guatemala’s teen pregnancy rate so high?]</ref> | ||